
By Robert Balajadia
The 2018 Girls Volleyball Season has dwindled down to the top eight teams, with four games set to begin the playoffs this Friday at 6 pm. The higher seeds will host, and since it’s the playoffs, the format will change to a best-of-five with the 5th set being first to 15.
SCHEDULE
JFK (4th Taga) @ ND (1st Gadao)
Harvest (4th Gadao) @ St. John’s (1st Taga)
Tiyan (3rd Taga) @ Academy (2nd Gadao)
GW (3rd Gadao) vs. St. Paul (2nd Taga)
BREAKDOWN
Royals host Islanders
There hasn’t been a tougher place to pick up a win in 2018 than at the Royal court down in Talafofo. The undefeated Royals are always greeted with a packed house, most especially in the post season. The defending champions were tested just a few times this season and the Islanders are a much tougher team than their record says.
The Royals have the most impactful player in the league in Austia Mendiola, a recovered former MVP in Carlie Quinata and the game changing Bri Leon Guerrero. That line-up alone is trouble for any team in the league.
JFK’s gritty group behind Kiyoni Yamaguchi and Kiana Rivera are sticklers on defense, which will be key for the Islanders in trying to slow down the Royal attack.
Knights take on Eagles
Last years St. John’s Knights were made up, in majority, of a group of underclassmen who got to the finals on sheer talent and they’ve only gotten better in 2018. A few hiccups along the way with losses to the Cougars and Royals didn’t diminish what the Knights were able to accomplish; a top seed finish in the Taga Division.
Knight Haley Wigsten has been a star this season with fellow youngsters in hitter Tylee Shepherd and middle Angeline Del Carmine both proving able to take over games when their numbers are called.
Getting in are the Eagles, who picked up must win games down the stretch to fight their way into the playoffs in a tough Gadao Division. The Eagles are at their best when Gabrielle Paulin is serving, but their defense will be tested with the heavy hitters set to go from St. John’s
Cougars battle Titans
The Academy Cougars can be considered the most dangerous team in the playoffs when they’re firing on all cylinders. They’ve pulled off some great wins over the St. John’s Knights and GW Geckos, but also had some tough losses, including a loss to the same Titans they will face this Friday.
Academy’s senior group leads their line-up, which could play a factor in their “all or nothing” mentality. Middle Laressa Halladay and Theisen Taimanglo are always dangerous with a collective group of hitters who have been given the green light.
The Titans aren’t going to make their run easy with lethal hitters like Y’lisiah-rai Jorda, but playing in front of their home crowd is a big plus for the Cougars.
Warriors welcome Geckos
A coaching change in the middle of the season didn’t slow down the St. Paul Warriors as they’ve now climbed to the 2nd seed of the Taga Division. The Warriors gave the Royals a three-set battle as well as collecting wins over the Cougars and Geckos to prove their play isn’t a fluke. Their length behind Niah Siguenza and Monica Giger is tough to deal with.
The Geckos have the talent to roll with anyone in the league, and of course, the ‘Bobbi Quinata factor’.
Geckos setter Kiyoko Afaisen has developed solid chemistry with her hitters, often turning to Lyric McGill and middle Evita Laguana in the ‘must score’ moments. No matter who is lined up against GW, head coach Bobbi Quinata will have the girls putting out their best efforts.


GPS Sports Calendar
February 2023
- SU
- MO
- TU
- WE
- TH
- FR
- SA
Events for January
1st
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
ISA BOYS BASKETBALL
Events for February
2nd
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE
ISA TRACK & FIELD MEET
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL
IIAAG TENNIS LEAGUE
Events for February
3rd
ISA TRACK & FIELD MEET
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL
IIAAG BOYS BASKETBALL
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
TRITONS BASEBALL INVITATIONAL PLAYOFFS
Events for February
4th
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL
Events for February
6th
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
IIAAG BOYS BASKETBALL
ISA BOYS BASKETBALL
Events for February
7th
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL
IIAAG TENNIS LEAGUE
IIAAG BOYS BASKETBALL
Events for February
8th
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
ISA BOYS BASKETBALL
Events for February
9th
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE
ISA TRACK & FIELD MEET
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL
IIAAG TENNIS LEAGUE
Events for February
10th
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
ISA TRACK & FIELD MEET
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL
IIAAG BOYS BASKETBALL
TRITONS BASEBALL INVITATIONAL FINALS
Events for February
12th
MONSTER ENERGY MOTOCROSS ROUND 2
Events for February
13th
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL PLAYOFFS
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
ISA BOYS BASKETBALL
IIAAG BOYS BASKETBALL
Events for February
14th
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL PLAYOFFS
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE
IIAAG TENNIS LEAGUE
IIAAG BOYS BASKETBALL
Events for February
15th
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL PLAYOFFS
ISA BOYS BASKETBALL
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
Events for February
16th
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE
ISA TRACK & FIELD MEET
IIAAG TENNIS LEAGUE
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL PLAYOFFS
Events for February
17th
ISA TRACK & FIELD MEET
IIAAG BOYS BASKETBALL
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
Events for February
18th
BLACK HISTORY MONTH 2K/5K
World Athletics Cross Country Championships
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE
Events for February
20th
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL PLAYOFFS
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
ISA BOYS BASKETBALL
Events for February
21st
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL PLAYOFFS
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE
IIAAG TENNIS LEAGUE
IIAAG BOYS BASKETBALL
Events for February
22nd
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL PLAYOFFS
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
ISA BOYS BASKETBALL
Events for February
23rd
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL PLAYOFFS
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE
IIAAG TENNIS LEAGUE
Events for February
24th
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
IIAAG BOYS BASKETBALL QUARTERFINALS
Events for February
24th
Events for February
25th
Events for February
27th
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL PLAYOFFS
ISA BOYS BASKETBALL SEMIFINALS
ISA GIRLS SOCCER SEMIFINALS
Events for February
28th
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL FINALS
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE SEMIFINALS
IIAAG TENNIS LEAGUE
IIAAG BOYS BASKETBALL SEMIFINALS

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