Connect with us

Volleyball

COUGARS CRUISE TO BACK-TO-BACK TITLES

Academy handles Harvest easily in straight sets

By Shania Bulala

Academy Cougars and Harvest Eagles fans packed the UOG Calvo Field House Friday evening for a thrilling championship showdown in the IIAAG Girls Volleyball League between the top two teams in the league.

The energy was through the roof as both teams geared up for the final match of the season. For the Eagles, the stakes were particularly high as they made their first-ever appearance in a championship game in school history. On the opposite side of the net, the defending champion Cougars aimed to secure their second consecutive title, entering the match as seasoned contenders.

Academy senior setter Ariana Cruz

The Cougars dominated from start to finish, defeating the Eagles in straight sets 25-15, 25-12, 25-18, cementing their reign as back-to-back champions.

“We played to our best. We prepared mentally and physically. We wanted this win, and everyone in the stands could tell we wanted it,” said senior setter Ariana Cruz.

1st Set
The Cougars came out strong in the opening set, with hitters Landen Devera and Maria Cruz delivering powerful kills early on. Academy quickly surged ahead, building a 9-3 lead, which prompted Harvest coach Beth Ring to call an early timeout to regroup.

Cruz expertly orchestrated the Cougars’ offensive plays, consistently setting up her teammates for successful kills.

“I knew in this game I had to fill my role as a leader. I’m like the quarterback of my team, and I don’t usually use myself to score points; I prefer to set up my hitters for that and make sure I can give them the best set that they can get.”

– Academy senior setter Ariana Cruz

Cruz contributed three kills and two aces to the victory, but her true impact went far beyond what is taken down on a stat sheet. Her ability to read the defense, deliver precise sets, and keep the offense running smoothly was crucial. Cruz’s presence on the floor allowed her teammates to fulfill their roles and was a key factor in the Cougars’ championship win.

Defensively, Academy libero Alessandra Leon Guerrero anchored the team. Meanwhile, on the Eagles end, Manea Camacho worked hard both offensively as her team’s main setter and on the defensive end in the front row.

The Cougars managed to extend their lead to as much as 11 points in the opening set, closing it out decisively with a 25-15 win, with an ace from Hinnengi San Nicolas.

2nd Set
As the second set got underway, the energy from fans of both teams continued to fire up the teams. Eagles’ outside hitter Niesha Chen came out firing, delivering three consecutive kills and doing everything she could to keep her team in the game. Fans were out of their seats as each one of her kills hit the floor.

Despite Chen’s best efforts, Academy’s offense remained relentless, taking an early 10-5 lead. Back-row attacks from Maria Cruz kept the Eagles’ defense under constant pressure.
The Cougars slowly pulled away with strong serving from Madeleine Lobaton, who went on a four-serve streak, widening the gap to 19-9. The Cougars closed out the set swiftly with a 25-12 victory, inching closer to the championship title.

3rd Set
The Cougars opened the third set determined to finish strong, quickly jumping to a 5-3 lead. Setter Cruz continued to play a pivotal role, setting up her teammates effectively and keeping the Academy offense running smoothly.
The Cougars again built a comfortable nine-point lead, but the Eagles weren’t going down without a fight. Strong serving from Eagles’ Juliet Ambrose helped them narrow the gap to just five points. However, Academy capitalized on every Eagles’ mistake, extending the score to 22-16. With only three points left to claim the title, the Cougars stayed focused and sealed the final set 25-18.

Sunday, Nov 3rd at Ypao Beach

Back-to-Back Champions
The Cougars’ depth and teamwork were key to their success, allowing them to dominate the court and secure their second consecutive IIAAG Girls Volleyball League title.

Players like Ariana Cruz, Mercedes Mendiola-Cruz, and Natasha Kelly, along with standout performances from across the roster, demonstrated that the Cougars built their success on teamwork. Their depth allowed them to rotate fresh legs without losing momentum, ensuring that every player contributed to the victory.

They will now swift their focus on defending their Far East crown.

3rd Place Game
In the third-place game, the St. Johns Knights defeated the Notre Dame Royals 25-20, 26-24, 23-25, 25-14.

PHOTO GALLERY BROUGHT TO YOU BY:

Ad

GPS Sports Calendar

October

November 2024

December
SU
MO
TU
WE
TH
FR
SA
27
28
29
30
31
1
2
Events for October

1st

Events for November

2nd

3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Events for November

2nd

No Events
Events for November

4th

Events for November

5th

Events for November

6th

Events for November

7th

Events for November

8th

Events for November

9th

10
11
12
13
14
15
16
Events for November

10th

Events for November

11th

Events for November

12th

Events for November

13th

Events for November

14th

Events for November

15th

Events for November

16th

17
18
19
20
21
22
23
Events for November

16th

No Events
Events for November

18th

Events for November

19th

Events for November

20th

Events for November

21st

Events for November

22nd

Events for November

23rd

24
25
26
27
28
29
30
Events for November

23rd

No Events
Events for November

25th

Events for November

26th

Events for November

27th

Events for November

27th

No Events
Events for November

29th

Events for November

30th

1
2
3
4
5
6
7

COMING SOON …

Lots of 2nd Quarter Sports

Guam vs. Japan men’s basketball November 24

QUICK HITS

The Fall PONY Bronco youth baseball league 12U came to an end with the Rangers going 7-0, defeating the Buckaroos 13-3 in the championship game.
——————————————————
The Oceanview Knights defended their ISA Boys Middle School Soccer Championship, beating the Untalan Wild Cats 5-1 for the title. Stephen Rioja scored two goals.

More in Volleyball