Griffin Adriana Ocampo (18) blasts a return against CambridgeJonatan Muñoz, International School
Griffins barely avoid upset by Knights
By Ana L. Saavedra Banzer
Cambridge College
The Cambridge girls varsity volleyball team has had its ups and downs this year, but Thursday afternoon in the International gym the team that won the championship last year showed that the Knights can still slug it out with the Griffins when they want to.
The Griffins won, preserving their unbeaten season and first-place finish, which was not in doubt, but they had a long afternoon. After the two teams each took a set, the Lady Knights took an 11-6 lead in the third set, before finally succumbing 15-13.
Cambridge's record for the season is only 2-4, and they finished in third place behind International and Christian Learning, which was 3-3 for the season. However, Cambridge is the only team to take a set against International during the year, a feat they accomplished twice.
In the first round of the playoffs, International will play fourth-place Co-operative at home in one bracket, while Cambridge plays Christian Learning at Christian Learning in the other. (See schedule at right.) Cambridge and International could conceivably meet again in the championship.
Cambridge took the first set. In it, the lead -- like the ball in the long rallies -- went back and forth and back and forth, with Cambridge finally winning 25-22.
The Lady Knights continued their disrespectful ways in the second set, and were ahead 12 to 9 when Griffin 11th grader Melissa Roca stepped to the service line and proceeded to reel off 16 straight points, catapulting International to a 25-12 win.
Fast, accurate serves are the hallmark of all the International teams, and this reflects the coaching style of International volleyball coach Elizabeth Vilar. Roca in particular sends serves over the net that are like rifle shots -- fast and accurate.
But the interesting thing is that while some of Roca's serves were "virtual aces" that weren't returned, Cambridge could often get the ball back. Indeed, senior Nan Jordan and 9th grader Mariana Escaño could both send the ball back across the net for the Knights at the same velocity with which it had arrived. However, the mere fact that Roca was serving seemed to have a stabilizing effect on her teammates. Long rallies often ensued, but International prevailed.
In the third set, faced with the possibility of actually losing for the first time this year, the Griffins showed their strength. They seemed to work harder than Cambridge at the very end when the outcome was uncertain. In short, they saw what they had to do -- and they did it.
But the outcome next time -- if there is a next time -- could be different
By Ana L. Saavedra Banzer
Cambridge College
The Cambridge girls varsity volleyball team has had its ups and downs this year, but Thursday afternoon in the International gym the team that won the championship last year showed that the Knights can still slug it out with the Griffins when they want to.
The Griffins won, preserving their unbeaten season and first-place finish, which was not in doubt, but they had a long afternoon. After the two teams each took a set, the Lady Knights took an 11-6 lead in the third set, before finally succumbing 15-13.
Cambridge's record for the season is only 2-4, and they finished in third place behind International and Christian Learning, which was 3-3 for the season. However, Cambridge is the only team to take a set against International during the year, a feat they accomplished twice.
In the first round of the playoffs, International will play fourth-place Co-operative at home in one bracket, while Cambridge plays Christian Learning at Christian Learning in the other. (See schedule at right.) Cambridge and International could conceivably meet again in the championship.
Cambridge took the first set. In it, the lead -- like the ball in the long rallies -- went back and forth and back and forth, with Cambridge finally winning 25-22.
The Lady Knights continued their disrespectful ways in the second set, and were ahead 12 to 9 when Griffin 11th grader Melissa Roca stepped to the service line and proceeded to reel off 16 straight points, catapulting International to a 25-12 win.
Fast, accurate serves are the hallmark of all the International teams, and this reflects the coaching style of International volleyball coach Elizabeth Vilar. Roca in particular sends serves over the net that are like rifle shots -- fast and accurate.
But the interesting thing is that while some of Roca's serves were "virtual aces" that weren't returned, Cambridge could often get the ball back. Indeed, senior Nan Jordan and 9th grader Mariana Escaño could both send the ball back across the net for the Knights at the same velocity with which it had arrived. However, the mere fact that Roca was serving seemed to have a stabilizing effect on her teammates. Long rallies often ensued, but International prevailed.
In the third set, faced with the possibility of actually losing for the first time this year, the Griffins showed their strength. They seemed to work harder than Cambridge at the very end when the outcome was uncertain. In short, they saw what they had to do -- and they did it.
But the outcome next time -- if there is a next time -- could be different
.
Jaguar setter lurks beneath Eagles, who are forming a target for their server.
Giannina Gutierrez, Co-operative
Eagles squeeze out win against Jaguars
From coaches' reports
The Christian Learning and Co-operative girls varsity volleyball teams pummeled each other mercilessly like a couple of heavyweights in the closing phase of a 15-round match, with the Eagles finally winning by about as close a set of scores as possible.
The Eagles took the first set 25-23, after the score had been tied at 15-15, 20-20, and 23-23. The second set was, if anything, even closer, with Christian Learning winning 26-24.
The two teams were slamming the ball at each other all match long, but the style of play was not as elegant as ithas been in other games. There were a surprising number of service errors and mis-hits on both sides for a game at the end of the season, when teams are supposed to be in playoff form. Both teams have had better days, and presumably will again.
The win secured second place for Christian Learning, which will play Cambridge at home in the first round of the playoffs. International finishes in fourth place, and will face undefeated Internationat at International in its opening playoff game.
