KNIGHTS CRUISE PAST LADY ISLANDERS

By Paradis Fejerang

With an exciting opening week of the ISA/IIAAG high school girls volleyball season, the St. John’s Knights used the home court to their advantage as they powered past the John F. Kennedy Islanders in three straight sets, claiming a convincing victory behind dominant serving, relentless defense, and standout performances from their leaders on the court 25-20, 25-16, 25-16.

With the season is still early, the opening set started as a serving battle, with both teams trading aces early off the starting whistle.

As St. John’s athletes settled into finding their first touches, JFK’s starters struggled to find their rhythm. With the Islander coaches sending in a couple of second string players to try closing the gap as SJS built momentum, Knight senior middle blocker and Player of the Game Amara Del Carmen emerged as a clear difference-maker from just this first set of the season, delivering key plays that sealed the Knights’ 25–20 win and so on throughout the rest of the match.

Into the second set, JFK’s starters settled in, but the Knights began to show signs of fatigue. However, that quickly changed along with the energy in the gym after Del Carmen and junior teammate Teia Ada-Vibar combined for a highlight block that went straight down onto one of their Islander opponents’ heads. The emphatic play continued as the ‘touch’ kept the ball in motion only for SJS to continue to shut down the Islanders from returning the ball back over the net.

The Knights wasted no time in the third set, locking in behind senior captain Jia Peters’ steady communication and leadership. While some points slipped away from overpowered serves and spikes, SJS controlled the pace with simple movements to conserve their energy but still being able to pull out quick one-handed returns over the net and swift reflexes.

Knights sophomore setter Naima Cook and junior outside hitter Nina Quitugua were standouts when it came to hustling on the court but that did not take away from the other side of the net as Islander Kristina Moreno was doing the same and more in throwing herself across the court in order to save the ball from touching the ground and help her team catch up as best she could.

Kennedy High’s Jaelyn Han also stepped in with some fuel for the Islanders as a strong run while serving seemed to shock the Knights for a second, but Del Carmen answered with two momentum-swinging blocks to gain a point each with the second being accompanied by Peters to push the lead to 17–8. 

Closing out, the Knights kept their composure and showed off their ability to adjust to finish the sweep with another score difference of 25–16 and take the win for the game with commanding fashion.

St. John’s is looking to keep up this positive energy with their home court when they next face the Guam High Panthers on Tuesday, September 2. Meanwhile, JFK will get a shot at playing in their gym as they will be taking on the Okkodo Bulldogs that very same day.

OTHER GAMES

Harvest def. St. Paul 25-3, 25-9, 25-13

GW def. Southern 25-13, 25-22, 25-11

Okkodo def. Sanchez 22-25, 26-24, 25-13, 25-11

Academy def. Tiyan 25-12, 25-10, 25-15

Guam High def. GACS 21-25, 25-9, 25-13, 25-20

Notre Dame def. GAA 25-16, 17-25, 25-16, 25-22 (Thurs)

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