EAGLES MAKE SCHOOL HISTORY WITH GIRLS VOLLEYBALL TITLE

By Mya Owens

The Harvest Eagles made school history Tuesday night by winning their first ever high school girls volleyball championship while knocking down the previously unbeaten GW Geckos in four sets before a boisterous crowd at the UOG Calvo Field House.

After suffering regular-season losses to GW and Academy, the Eagles made a powerful statement when it mattered most by beating both foes in a matter of three nights, the last being for the championship 25-23,17-25, 25-12, 27-25.

Behind their victory were the Players of the Game, Niesha Chen and Charmaine Tyquiengco. The senior leader Chen led with 16 kills, while sophomore Tyquiengco added 7 kills and 2 blocks.

“Our communication made the difference today, it made us unified,” Tyquiengco stated.

“We persevered and never gave up. Even when we were down, we kept smiling. Our attitudes help us change our atmosphere, overall helping us overcome,” Chen added.

Harvest started their girls high school volleyball program in 2004, taking them 21 years before finally tasting championship victory.

SET 1
Chen opened the game in the Eagles’ favor, delivering back-to-back kills that forced the Geckos into an early timeout. Despite their strong start, the Eagles struggled with net violations, giving the Geckos a chance to fight back. Both teams displayed their defensive skills, digging and countering each other’s powerful attacks, while Charmaine Tyquiengco stood out at the net, blocking several Geckos attempts to score.
In the final points of the first set, the Geckos struggled with communication, allowing the Eagles’ offensive shots to land on their side. The Eagles took advantage of every opportunity, winning the first set 25–23.

SET 2
The Geckos responded with powerful attacks led by Yenia Smartt. Both teams showcased perfect pass-set-hit rallies, showing their teamwork and communication. The Eagles stayed strong, with Keisha Chen and Juliet Ambrose finding openings and exploiting gaps in the Geckos’ defense. Still, net violations worked against the Eagles, allowing the Geckos to take the set 25–17.

SET 3
The Eagles were able to recover from their earlier errors and take control of the game. At the service line, Manea Camacho and Ambrose each delivered back-to-back aces, while Niesha Chen sent four powerful kills into the Geckos’ court, allowing Harvest to take the third set decisively, 25–12.

SET 4
Determined to win the set, Harvest opened strong, but the Geckos held their ground defensively, digging the Eagles’ aggressive attacks. Both teams gave everything they had, keeping the crowd on their feet. Niesha Chen delivered five kills while Tyquiengco strategically placed tips, but Gecko Zariah Besabe answered with four kills and two blocks, keeping the Geckos in the fight. The Eagles edged out the set 27–25 and sent the Harvest student body to flood the floor in jubilation.

RISE TO THE TOP
Going into the playoffs as the third seed, Harvest was determined to prove themselves. The team defeated the top two seeds, the Cougars and the Geckos, to claim the championship. In the regular season, the Eagles did not drop a single set to any team outside of Academy and GW.

“We changed a lot and we changed many things. The girls bought into it and were able to come together,” Eagles head coach Beth Ring reflected. “Even when we made a mistake, we were able to come back. They executed this game very well.”

In the 3rd place game, the Academy Cougars swept the St. John’s Knights 25-16, 25-13, 25-17.

EAGLES def. GECKOS 25-23, 17-25, 25-12, 27-25

1st Set

Kills: Harvest (11) N. Chen 5, Tyquiengco 3, Ambrose 2, Camacho; GW (6) Besabe 2, Fejeran 2, Dela Rosa, Semina. Aces: Harvest (5) K. Chen 3, Ambrose, Weakley; GW (0). Blocks: Harvest (0); GW (2) Smartt, Besabe. Unforced Errors: Harvest 13, GW 7. Service Errors: Harvest 2, GW 1.

2nd Set

Kills: Harvest (8) Ambrose 3, N. Chen 2, Tyquiengco 2, Camacho; GW (9) Smartt 5, Basabe, Simina, Garrido, Fejeran. Aces: Harvest (2) Ambrose, Camacho; GW (2) Chargualaf, Smartt. Blocks: Harvest (1) Tyquiengco; GW (1) Fejeran. Unforced Errors: Harvest 11, GW 4. Service Errors: Harvest 3, GW 2.

3rd Set

Kills: Harvest (10) N. Chen 4, Ambrose 3, Tyquiengco, Camacho, K. Chen; GW (5) Smartt 3, Besabe, Fejeran. Aces: Harvest (4) Camacho 2, Ambrose 2; GW (2) Simina, Chargualaf. Blocks: Harvest (1) Tyquiengco; GW (0). Unforced Errors: Harvest 4, GW 7. Service Errors: Harvest 1, GW 3.

4th Set

Kills: Harvest (15) N. Chen 5, Ambrose 5, K. Chen 3, Tyquiengco, Weakley; GW (10) Besabe 5, Smartt 2, Fejeran 2, Garrido. Aces: Harvest (5) Ambrose 2, K. Chen, Camacho, Weakley; GW (4) Me. Manipol 2, Dela Rosa, Chargualaf. Blocks: Harvest (0); GW (2) Simina, Fejeran. Unforced Errors: Harvest 9, GW 3. Service Errors: Harvest 1, GW 4.

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