GECKOS SWEEP KNIGHTS, MOVE ON TO TITLE GAME

By Mya Owens

The #1-ranked GW Geckos faced off against the #5 St. John’s Knights on their home court in a high-stakes semifinal matchup Tuesday night.

The Knights came ready to challenge the top seed, keeping each set close, but the Geckos held their ground and stayed in control, securing the win in straight sets 25–20, 25–21, 25–19. With the victory, the Geckos advance to the championship finals on Thursday.

 Yenia Smartt delivered 9 kills, 2 aces, and 2 blocks, while teammate Zariah Besabe contributed 4 kills and 4 blocks for the undefeated Geckos.

“We came into this game knowing it might be our last. We knew we needed to play our game, give it our all, communicate with each other, and get our mindset right,” reflected Smartt.

SET 1
Both teams opened with high energy as fans and supporters traded chants from the stands. Early on, the Knights capitalized on the Geckos’ errors to take an early lead. However, the Geckos’ power at the net quickly made up for their mistakes, allowing them to shift the game into the favor. The Geckos displayed their skillset, allowing them to pull ahead and force St. John into a timeout. Still, the Geckos maintained their momentum, continuing to extend their lead and eventually taking the set.

SET 2
Throughout the set, both teams exchanged service errors, sending balls out or into the net, but still delivered aggressive kills and timely blocks. Both teams were clearly driven for the finals, trading intense rallies that had players scrambling across the court. Midway through the set, the Knights began breaking through the Geckos’ defense and took control. However, continued struggles at the service line allowed GW to close the gap. As the Geckos neared the final points, the Knights called a strategic timeout, but GW stayed in control, taking the second set.

SET 3
For both teams, the third set was crucial. Players worked together, giving it their all, while the coaches shouted encouragement from the sidelines. The Geckos began finding openings in the Knights’ defense, but hitting errors allowed the Knights to stay close. In the Geckos’ final points, both teams played their hardest, digging each other’s kills and scrambling for every ball, keeping the set intense until the very end. The Geckos secured the win, taking the final set. 

GW AND HARVEST ADVANCE TO THE FINALS
With their victory over the Knights, the Geckos advance to the championship finals, where they will face off against the #3 Harvest Eagles, who pulled off a mild upset over the #2 Academy Cougars.

Both teams have shown skill and determination throughout the season, setting the stage for an intense showdown. Fans are eagerly anticipating a high-energy battle as the Geckos aim to claim the championship title.

“We are going to practice our hardest, make sure we are mentally prepared, and give them our all.” stated Besabe. “Our team played with their heart. We feel amazing and excited.” added Smartt.

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