SHARKS MAKE HUGE STATEMENT IN BATTLE OF UNBEATENS

By Matt Lorenzo

In the biggest regular season matchup of the ISA Girls Volleyball League season, the Sanchez Sharks easily swept the JFK Islanders in three sets 25-20, 25-16, 25-20 at the JFK gym Thursday night. Both teams entered competition with an undefeated record at 5-0.

The game was originally scheduled for last Friday, but the JFK campus, which both teams are share, was shut down due to safety threats. The game was moved to Thursday night as a makeup.

The Sharks made up for the lost time with a statement game led by team leader Hazelle Derbai.

1st set
Off the whistle both teams had a rocky start with JFK’s first serve being out of bounds and Sharks Erin Clemana spike also going out. A fired up Aika Kanekatsu would send a deep shot down the left line putting the Islanders up. In the next play, Sharks standout player Lyrwana Mogul delivered a kill straight down the middle, not being met by any of the Islanders.

After a botched tip attempt, the Islanders got back to serving with Amanda Lizama taking the serve and delivering four straight serves, causing the Sharks to take a time out. Being down players, Mogul and Katherina Pineda both delivered kills in the next few plays to tie the game 15-15. Good passes and plays by Kanekatsu and Maria Paule put the Islanders back up, but that is shut down by two back to back tips by sharks setter Breanna Simina and a huge block by Erin Clemana on Kanekatsu.

Sharks captain Derbai put up more kills furthering the Sharks lead. On set point, Paule’s hit landed just outside the line and to give the Sharks the first set 25-20.

2nd set

The second set started with a monster block by Franchesca Aguilar and two kills by Kanemoto. Biting back, the Sharks’ Derbai and Clemana showed their fire power with monster kills. Kanemoto tried her best to hold on and deliver kills but was met by the Sanchez defense led by Clemana and Pineda. More rallies and back and forth points all the way up to the last points of the second set, ending with the Sharks cruising to a 25-16.

3rd set

The third set, the Islanders finally brought out Jaelyn Han to get back into the game and Han got to work immediately delivering multiple kills to put JFK in the lead. After Han’s scoring run and some kills from Kanekatsu and Paule, the Sharks found their footing in the third set in leadership from Derbai, Clemana, and Mogul.

Showing her two way prowess, Clemana was all over the offensive attempts from the Islanders. Kanekatsu tried hard to salvage the game for JFK with multiple kills and saves. This was short lived as Clemana, Derbai, and Mugol sealed the game off with a series of kills. Sharks took third set 25-20.

The trio Erin Clemana, Hazelle Derbai, and Lyrwana Mugol led the way in the big showdown of the unbeaten teams, gaining Players of the Game honors in the three-set sweep.

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