DOUBLE SESSION DRAWS LATE NIGHT ACTION

By Paradis Jolie Fejerang

Double-session schools John F. Kennedy and Simon Sanchez faced each other in the JFK gym for a heated ISA Girls Volleyball League game filled with heavy tension and supporters trying to out-cheer each other ending in the Sharks’ favor after four sets Tuesday night.

Starting the game, JFK took a hefty lead for the first set, but was stopped in their tracks once they got into the 20s and nearing the first win. The Sharks were not willing to give up a fight for the game opener. Only letting the Islanders reach 22 total points in set one, the Sharks bit back and took the win from the original five points they were behind on. 

Sanchez captain, senior Kayna Kanemoto, stood out early on in setting the pace for her team. Despite being behind, she kept her cool and delivered in every aspect from digs to blocks, aces to kills.

JFK took back the energy in their second set, making a show of their plays. The Islanders took every chance they got to display their well-rounded skill levels. The libero, Lyca Alves, showed that although she was deserving of her position, she could still take some points with a spike from where she was when she got the chance. Even their setter, Philicita Rivera, did some damage to the Sharks by helping in the Islander’s strong blocking wall against their opponents heavy hits to end the second set with a 25-18 win.

Set three proved to be a back-and-forth between teams as drowsiness tore into the athletes. Neither were able to move so far forward until the other took a new point. It had become a serving game as the end neared as both teams began to fall short of even successfully making it over the net. Ultimately, the even set ended in the Shark’s favor 26-24.

With the final set becoming a fight for JFK to take back the scores in their homecourt, the Islanders energy kicked back in only to be met with the force of Sharks hungry for the win. Intense hustle was shown through Islanders Jodee Halili and setter Rivera, both of which had multiple dives to help their team move forward and set up the towering Aika Kanekatsu, who dominated the front row. Still, the Islanders’ work was not enough to defeat the Sharks teamwork and reliance on each other to secure the final set with a score of 25-18.

“It was definitely a little frustrating because both teams were really good,” Kanemoto shared, proud of her team’s win. “We were working on picking up on spots that [JFK] hits at.” Kanemoto’s goals for Sanchez in upcoming games are to continue to work as a team, play together and have fun.

The next ISA volleyball match up for these two teams will be on October 26. Sanchez will be challenging Okkodo at JFK. JFK will be challenging Southern at OMS.

OTHER BIG GAME

Another showdown Tuesday night had the GW Geckos taking down the Okkodo Bulldogs 25-20, 25-18, 23-25, 26-24 to improve to 3-1.

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