GECKOS SWEEP VOLLEYBALL OPENING NIGHT

By Mya Owens

The stands of Okkodo High School were full of friends, families, and supporters ready to watch
the highly anticipated season opener of the IIAAG/ISA Girls High School Volleyball League.

The Okkodo Bulldogs remained determined throughout the match, but the GW Geckos delivered their first loss of the season, taking the win in straight sets 25-16, 25-17, 25-16. Although the Geckos have new faces on their team, they were able to display their excellent communication and overall chemistry on the court.

“I definitely felt chemistry and excitement on the court, I can’t wait for more exciting games,” said Gecko Breanna Simina.

First Set
The Bulldogs struck first, putting the initial points on the board.

The match opened neck-in-neck, with both teams looking to establish a dominant lead. However, costly hitting errors by the Bulldogs gave the Geckos an opening. Capitalizing on the momentum, heavy hitter Savannah Dela Rosa dominated at the net, helping GW pull ahead and take the first set.

Second Set
In the second set, the Bulldogs came out fighting. They took advantage of some mistakes from GW to grab an early lead and kept the pressure up. The Bulldogs landed some powerful hits and found openings in the Geckos’ defense. Simina answered back with precise setting and great court awareness, while Yenia Smartt delivered kills that shifted the momentum back into GW’s favor. Still, Okkodo’s errors added up, allowing GW to take a solid two-set lead.

Third Set
By the third, GW had all the momentum. They were able to create an early gap on the scoreboard, feeding off the energy of their bench. The Bulldogs stayed determined, using strategic tip shots and keeping the ball in play with safe free balls. GW remained aggressive, both offense and defense locked in. The Geckos were able to brush off their mistakes and keep their energy up, defeating the Bulldogs.

This season marks a shift in girls volleyball. For the first time in six years, public and private school teams for girls volleyball go head-to-head during the regular season. GW is focused on sharpening their skill set to adapt to the new level of competition.

“We definitely will be working on our defense and will be coming up with new strategies,” said Breanna Simina.

OTHER GAMES

St. John’s def. St. Paul 25-17, 25-17, 25-16

Academy def. Notre Dame 25-22, 18-25, 27-25, 25-13

Harvest def. Guam High 25-7, 25-10, 25-8

GAA def. GACS 25-19, 25-20, 20-25, 25-8

JFK def. Southern 24-26, 25-16, 25-18, 21-25, 15-12

Sanchez def. Tiyan 20-25, 25-13, 25-18, 25-20

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