By Robert Balajadia
The Southern Dolphins were emphatic about picking up their first win of the young ISA Girls Volleyball season at home as they took down the visiting Okkodo Bulldogs in four sets 25-20, 25-21, 20-25, 25-21.
Leading lady for the Dolphins was junior outside hitter Elecia Paulino, who had nine kills in the contest to along with three serve aces. Paulino saved her best work for the 4th set, notching four of her kills in the set alone to help her team put away the Bulldogs.
“It felt like it meant a lot, especially for me. We really just wanted to push. We all set a goal for today and we accomplished it,” said an excited Paulino on getting win number one.
Southern seemed to be at their best towards the later parts of each set as they used set-clinching runs in the 1st and 2nd to get an early edge. Tied at 20 in the 1st, Paulino would grab her second kill of the night to spark a 5-0 set-ending run that allowed the Dolphins to gain momentum.
Paulino would find another big kill late in the 2nd set off a long rally to get her team up 23-20, which was part of a 6-1 run to seal the set for a 2-0 lead.
When asked about what sparked the Dolphin’s runs in the late sets, Paulino explained it was all about resetting their focus.
“It was just about thinking how much we wanted to win the game and wanting to do well this whole season for everybody and each and everyone on the team,” said Paulino.
Okkodo would respond well in the 4th as Southern started a rotated line-up. The Dolphins were in prime position to start their late-set run with the scored tied at 19 in the 3rd, but strong serves from Okkodo’s Laurence Mupas, which included an ace, allowed Okkodo to turn the tables and take the 3rd set.
Southern collected themselves and played through the hitting of Paulino, and a three kill set performance from middle Tasi Naputi to grab the 4th set, along with their first win on the year.
“We just wanted to have fun and do our best while leaving it all out on the court. We had to just do what we normally do and just push ourselves,” said Paulino.
Southern (1-1) will get a BYE on Monday which means a whole week off until they welcome the JFK Islanders down South next Thursday. Okkodo will face the GW Geckos Monday at home.
PHOTO GALLERY BROUGHT TO YOU BY:
GPS Sports Calendar
March 2024
- SU
- MO
- TU
- WE
- TH
- FR
- SA
Events for February
1st
ISA SOFTBALL
IIAAG MS GIRLS SOCCER FINALS
IIAAG BOYS BASKETBALL QUARTERFINALS
HS RUGBY PLAYOFFS
Events for March
2nd
HS RUGBY
ISA GIRLS SOFTBALL
ISA BOYS BASKETBALL FINALS
Events for March
2nd
Events for March
4th
ISA HIGH SCHOOL TENNIS
ISA SOFTBALL ALL-ISLAND COACHES MEETING
Events for March
5th
HS RUGBY PLAYOFFS
IIAAG BOYS BASKETBALL SEMIFINALS
Events for March
8th
IIAAG BOYS BASKETBALL FINALS
ISA HIGH SCHOOL TENNIS PLAYOFFS
Events for March
9th
ISA SOFTBALL FINALS
HS RUGBY FINALS
Events for March
9th
Events for March
14th
- 17
- 18
- 19
- 20
- 21
- 22
- 23
Events for March
16th
Events for March
17th
Events for March
18th
Events for March
19th
Events for March
20th
Events for March
22nd
Events for March
24th
Events for March
25th
Events for March
27th
Events for March
28th
Events for March
29th
- 31
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
Events for March
30th
Basketball
TENORIO NAMED IIAAG HOOPS MVP
Basketball
TENORIO NAMED IIAAG HOOPS MVP
Volleyball
CHEN, EUGENIA ARE EMPRESSES OF THE BEACH
COMING SOON …
4th Quarter Sports
- Guam Marathon