JV Boys Soccer Championship

THE AMAZING FLYING AVILA -- Jaguar goalie Camilo Avila making one of his incredible saves against Griffin Lucas de Coulon. Carlos Paredes, Cooperative

Jaguars lead Griffins all the way, triumph 3-1

The Cooperative boys junior varsity soccer team claimed the championship with a 3-1 victory over International Thursday on their home field, with a lot of the credit going to their goalie, Camilo Avila.
Avila stopped at least three certain goals with diving saves in the open field, and while International also had its share of defensive heroics, Jaguars Josue Abuawad, Rafael Sakuma, and Jorge Zankiz were able to get the ball into the net. Santiago Rosado scored for the Griffins.

____________

SETTLING A DIFFERENCE -- Jaguar Rafael Sakuma and Griffin Alejandro Saldaña have divergent ideas as to which way the ball should go. Carlos Paredes, Cooperative

_____________

The game opened with the two teams launching reciprocating attacks that took the ball up and down the field with startling speed. The Jaguars broke the deadlock when the Griffin goalie gambled -- and lost -- by trying to come out and snatch the ball from an on-rushing Josue Abuawad. Abuawad evaded him and zipped the ball into the open net.
Avila kept the Jaguars in the lead with the first of his several fabulous saves as he matched strides with Griffin Javier Barron as the two raced across the mouth of the goal, then uncannily snared Barron's shot with a flying leap.
Jaguar captain Rafael Sakuma then moved the score to 2-0. Racing in with the ball from the side of the goal he uncorked a low line drive into the opposite side of the goal.
Avila then made another astonishing save, this time off a hard kick by Jose Eduardo Coloma that seemed to have goal written all over it until Avila grabbed it.
The half ended with the Jaguars ahead 2-0.
The Griffins pulled to within a single goal 2-1 when Rosado made good on a penalty shot. He had been knocked down from behind in the penalty area as he tried to drive along to end line toward the goal.
Rosado had a chance to even the score as he broke free in front of the goal moments later, but Avila almost magically snatched the ball out from under his feet.
The Jaguars got their third goal by completing three long passes that got the ball to Jorge Zankiz close to the goal, who put it in the net.

____________

HAIL TO THE VICTORS -- Jaguars celebrate their victory.
Carlos Paredes, Cooperative

____________


The line-up for the champion Jaguars: Avila, Alejandro Rojas, Reinalso Chavez, Leo Landivar, Sakuma, Jorge Zankiz, Jose David Sanchez, Abuawad, Bruno Alvarenga, Jose Mario Salvatierra, Sebastian Zankiz, Ezekiel Chavez, Cho Jang Ho, Stefano de Rosmini, Fernando Antelo, Richard Salvatierra, Gabriel Romero, and Daniel Velasco. The coach is Orlando Taja.
For the Griffins: Joaquin Wray, Claudio Santos, Walter Sandy, Felipe Rios, Santiago Rosado, Alejandro Saldaña, Esteban Justiniano, Lucas de Coulon, Javier Barron, Diego Aramayo, Samir Nostas, Shane Maughan, Javier Garcia, Hans Hartman, Daniel Hanley, Joachim Blasco, Jakob Hlodversson, Jose Eduardo Coloma. The coach is Eduardo "Presi" de la Riva.



SPLASH PARTY -- Happy Jaguars administer ceremonial dunking to Coach Orlando Taja (figure in red, submerged). Jonatan Muñoz, International
______________________

HERE HE COMES -- Winger Jose Ribera scored both goals for the Knights.
Julia Boldt, Cooperative

Knights edge Eagles 2-1 for third place

The Cambridge junior varsity boys soccer team narrowly defeated Christian Learning 2-1 in a consolation game played at Cooperative Thursday that was every bit as thrill-packed as the championship game that followed it.
The victory gave the Knights third place in the League, a spot they have occupied almost all season, but which they nearly lost in this playoff contest against a team that has not won this season.


____________

YOU GO YOUR WAY, AND ... -- Knight Jose Ribera tries to push past a determined Regan Janzen.
Julia Boldt, Cooperative

____________


The Little Eagles were on the board first when Gaston Waldman chipped a high shot that the leaping Cambridge goalie, Andres Hurtado, inadvertently slapped into his own goal.
Knight Jose Ribera tied the score when he got loose in front of the Eagle net and fired the ball past Eagle goalie Wesley Ordoñez.
In between the two scores, the two goalies took turns making impressive saves, as both teams had chances to score but failed to capitalize on them.
The half ended with the score still tied at 1-1.
As the second half began the two teams continued to compete on an even basis. Both were moving the ball downfield with facility, but neither could move in for a kill.
Cambridge may have begun to feel snakebit when they missed an open net several minutes into the second stanza, but they got another great chance when a shot from the side of the net spun away from a sprawling Ordoñez and curled across the front of the goal. Ribera found himself in the right place at the right time, and didn't miss.
The Eagles then put on the pressure, first forcing a corner kick, then sending a center pass across the front of the net that no Eagle could get to in time to convert. The action continued to be fast paced, with the ball ping-ponging up and down the field, giving both goalies multiple opportunities to handle the ball, and demonstrate their diving skills. But the game ended with the Knights ahead 2-1.
The line-up for the Knights was Hurtado, Gabriel Alonso, Ribera, Juan Carlos Paniagua, Diego Bejar, Nicolas Dagnoni, Daniel Kirigin, Adrian Gamarra, Ramiro Rodriguez, Samuel Zamora, Samuel Park, David Li Tan, Anthony Salvatierra, Mauricio Soto, and Leonardo Sanchez. The coaches are Carlos Euler and Karla Ross.
For the Eagles: Waldman, Haziel Martinez, Samuel Frith, Regan Janzen, Cesar Flores, Richard Enns, Andres Cruz, Josiah Canaviri, Ordoñez, Manfred Breede, Ryan Henderson, Luke Phillips, Micah Janzen, Hwa Pyung Lim, Jose Mercado, and Jordan Vandergwaag. The coach is Adam Morris.

JV Girls Soccer Championship

WINNING GOAL -- Jaguar Michelle Lederman (14) sends the ball past Eagle goalie Rebekah Kienzle for second Jaguar goal.
Carlos Paredes, Cooperative

Jaguars finally beat Eagles, take cup

The Cooperative girls junior varsity soccer team defeated Christian Learning in the championship game Thursday afternoon on their home field, 3-1.
The win marked the first time that the Jaguars had defeated the Eagles this year. Both of the two previous meetings had ended in ties, and with Christian Learning winning extra-point penalty shootout.
____________

LOOKING TO PASS -- Jaguar Michelle Lederman (14) tries to find an open teammate. She later scored twice.
Julia Boldt, Cooperative

____________


Giovanna Varalta opened the scoring for the Jaguars dribbling the ball to the left corner of the penalty box and unleashing a shot that beat Eagle goalie Rebekah Kienzle to the far side of the goal.
Eagle standout Emily Ordoñez had two excellent opportunities to even the score. An just-in-time deflection by Jaguar goalie Fabiana Andrade thwarted the first. The second, right off the kickoff of the second half, hit the goal post.
The Jaguars netted the next goal when Michelle Lederman took the ball at midfield, outran the Eagle defenders, and won a one-on-one confrontation with Kienzle by knocking the ball to the goalie's right, making the score 2-0 for the Jaguars.
Each team had several near misses, and then Ordoñez got another chance, and the fleet-footed redhead was not denied this time. Sailing at full steam into four defenders she let loose a shot that Andrade tried to kick save. The footwork was there, but the timing was off, and the ball scooted under her outstretched leg like a croquet ball going through a wicket to make the score 2-1.
The Jaguars added an insurance goal a short while later. Varalta took charge of a throw-in deep in the Christian Learning end and uleashed a centering pass that Lederman banged into the goal.
Cooperative threatened again, but Kienzle made the necessary saves. The game ended right after the Eagles just missed on a free kick.

____________

WINNING TEAM -- Jaguars pose with trophy and coaches.
Carlos Paredes, Cooperative

____________

The line-up for the championship-winning Jaguars was Varalta, Maria Fernanda Flores, Megumi Kamiya, Marcela Netzlaff, Andrea Chavez, Giuliana Varalta, Maureen Harrison, Jessica Maureira, Bianca Marinkovic, Lederman,
Samantha Bennett, Andrade, and Cassandra Morales. The co-coaches are Olivia Mercado and Heath Kondro.
For the runner-up Eagles it was: Sandi Wilcke, Samiua Dajbura, Kienzle, Jessica Suarez, Bright Chin, Tamara Vargas, Ordoñez, Ivana Velarde, Isabela Diaz, Emily Mercado, Veronica Apodaca, Shikenah Miranda, Elizabeth Suarez, and Camila Salgueira, Ester Chun, Roxann Malloy, and Jessica Schroeder. The coach is Keith Wilcke.

JV Boys Soccer Semifinals

OVER THE WALL -- Knight Leonardo Sanchez (19) launches a free kick over the Jaguars' wall, but goalkeeper Camilo Avila fielded it just inside the left goal post (right).

Tony Paulsen, Cooperative

Jaguars beat Knights on late goal 1-0

The Cooperative boys junior varsity soccer team squeezed by Cambridge Thursday afternoon on the strength of a goal by Rafael Sakuma in the closing minutes.
The stage is now set for the championship game Thursday between Cooperative and International, who each won a game in their previous meetings this year. Cambridge will play Christian Learning in the consolation game for third place.
Cooperative had been on the attack through the entire game and had many more shots on goal but until Sakuma scored with about three minutes remaining Cambridge goalie Jose Ribera had met the challenge with intrepid positioning and sure-handed catches. Ribera was playing goal for the first time since the first game of the season, but "has been practicing" according to assistant coach Karla Ross.
His long punts were Cambridge's strongest offensive weapon. Indeed, they were almost too strong. Several times in the second half Cooperative goalkeeper Camilo Avila fielded Ribera punts that no other player had touched.
Cooperative had actually had its two best chances in the first half when two shots spanged off the crossbar, one by Manuel Navarro and the other by Josue Abuawad. Abuawad's shot hit the crossbar after being deflected off the forearms of a diving Ribera.
Cambridge had actually come within inches of scoring the game's first goal when Gabriel Alonso launched a high looping shot that Avila, suspended in mid-air as if preparing to do a back swan dive, slapped over the goal with the fingers of his outstretched right hand.
Sakuma's goal followed a melee in front of the Cambridge goal after a free kick. Ribera came out of the goal to his right to try to make a leaping grab for a bouncing ball, but it squirted off his fingertips. It bounced free and bounced for a long second or two in front of the now undefended net before Sakuma kicked it in.
The line-up for the victorious Jaguars was Avila, Alejandro Rosas, Reinaldo Chavez, Ezequiel Chavez, Leo Landivar, Sakuma, Jose David Sanchez, Abuawad, Jose Marco Salvatierra, Jorge Zaniz, Sebastian Zankiz, Navarro, Rodrigo Adriazola, Bruno Alvarenga, Fernando Antelo, Richard Salvatierra, Gabriel Romero, and Daniel Velasco.
For the Knights it was Rivero, Federico Rocco, Kevin Mendez, David Li Tan, Diego Bejar, Samuel Zamora, Juan Carlos Paniagua, Nicolas Dagnoni. Adrian Gamarra, Alonso, Kevin Pulis, Daniel Kirigin, Simon Moron, Leonardo Sanchez, Samuel Park, Ramiro Rodriguez, and Andres Hurtado.
____________

Griffins maintain mastery over Mini-Eagles

By Keith Wilcke
Christian Learning
On a balmy afternoon at the International School, the International boys junior varsity socdcer team won their way into the JV boys soccer finals with a 3-0 victory over Christian Learning.
The last time these two teams met, the Griffins slid by with a 1-0 win and the Eagles had hopes of coming away with a victory. Eagle coach Adam Morris even offered to shave his head if his team won, but he'll now get to keep his hair.
The Griffins actually spoiled Coach Morris' possible buzz-cut in the first few minutes when they exploited some Eagle defensive miscues on the flank and fired a nice cross into the middle. One Griffin attacker fanned on the ball as it crossed in front of the Eagle goal, and it appeared for a moment as if the Eagles would dodge the bullet, but Javier Barron followed up his teammate's miss with a nice hard shot that found the net.
The rest of the first half was played on a relatively even basis until just before half time. The Eagle defense failed to clear a bouncing ball after a Griffin corner kick and Santiago Rosado knocked it into the goal.
Samir Nostas put another nail in the Eagle coffin with a long shot immediately following the opening kick off of the second half that eluded Eagle goalkeeper Wesley Ordonez.
As the two teams brought on their younger substitutes in the second half, both squads had several scoring opportunities, but no one else could convert.
The Griffins now go to the championship game against Cooperative Thursday while the Eagles will now have to content themselves with a try for the bronze medal against Cambridge.

JV Girls Soccer Semifinals

Jaguars beat Griffins 2-0 to gain finals

The Cooperative girls junior varsity soccer team defeated International Tuesday on their home field on the strength of two first half goals off the foot of Giovanna Varalta.
The win sets up an interesting championship match Thursday between Cooperative and Christian Learning, two teams who have battled to ties in their two previous meetings this year.
Christian Learning won the post game penalty shootouts in both cases, entitling them to two extra points in the standings, and finished first in the League, giving them a bye into the championship game.
Varalta, who was coming back to action after having been sidelined with a foot injury, did not start the game, but in less than a minute after she entered the action she put Cooperative ahead 1-0 with a booming shot from the center of the field from about 20 meters out.
She added her second goal a short while later when she veered left, then right to avoid Griffin defenders, and as she fell backwards got off a shot that hit the near post and caromed into the goal.
That concluded the scoring for the day, though early in the second half International seemed to be on the comeback trail. First Griffin Sofia Sciaroni went one-on-one with Jaguar goalie Fabiana Andrade, but Andrade won that one.
The Griffins were back in front of the Jaguar goal a short while later as Fabiana Zelada unleashed a near miss.
Next Natalia Johnson uncorked a looper that landed at the base of the right goalpost and bounced back out onto the field.
Then Maria Fernanda Gutierrez bounced a shot off Andrade and immediately collided with the goalkeeper. The Griffin cause might have been better served if Gutierrez had pursued the rebound instead of stopping to be sure Andrade was all right.
At this point, about halfway through the second half, the International attack seemed to lose force and momentum switched back to the Jaguars. Varalta came very close to getting a hat trick, but was thwarted by International goalkeeper Katherin Ceballos, who played well all afternoon.
The Jaguars had another golden opportunity as a ball bounced merrily across the mouth of the momentarily undefended Griffin goal, but no one could get there to kick it in.
The line-up for the winning Jaguars was Samatha Benett, Bianca Marinkovic, Jessica Maureira, Andrade, Michelle Lederman, Maureen Harrison, Cassandra Morales, Marcela Netzlaff, Giuliana Varalta, Giovanna Varalta, Megumi Kamiya, Andrea Chavez, and Maria Fernanda Flores.
For the Griffins: Ceballos, Nicole Sinclair, Micaela Pedraza, Michelle Pedraza, johnson, Angela Gagliardi, Zelada, Pamela Suarez, Gutierrez, Maria Isabel Alexander, Carolina Aguilera, Mariana Roca, Antonia Maggi, Sciaroni, and Carolina Teixeira.

JV Girls Volleyball Championship

FAMILY AFFAIR -- Griffin captain Ciara Harriague and her mother, International coach Eli Vilar, accept championship trophy from League commissioner Alavaro Ludueña.
Jonatan Muñoz, International

Griffins upset favored Jaguars in three sets

The International girls junior varsity volleyball team surprised previously undefeated Cooperative in the championship game played at Cooperative Thursday, as they started and finished strong to take the match two sets to one.
In a match in which both teams seem plagued by bad cases of Big Game Yips, the Griffins were finally the ones who made fewer mistakes.
The Griffins were in command of the match in the opening set moving out to a 16-8 lead, then widening it to 22-11, and, at the end, 25-14.
The second set started out a very even affair, and the teams were tied at 14-14. From that point the Jaguars began to asset themselves, pulling out to a 22-16 lead.
Both teams were plagued by missed serves, and neither seemed to be able to find a steady rhythm. The loud an noisy crowd may have contributed to the players evident nervousness.
International was able to take an early lead in the deciding third set, 8-2. But Cooperative fought back, and egged on by screaming, jumping, hooting fans led by a caped cheerleader wearing a blue Blooming flag, they cut the lead to two at 11-9, and then tied the game at 14-all.
However, the comeback try then foundered on a bad serve and missed reception, and the Griffins won the campionship, taking the final set 16-14.
The line-up for the victorious Griffins was Nicole Sinclair, Irene Vergara, Pamela Suarez, Fabiana Zelada, Katherine Ceballos, Renata Maggi, Ciara Harriague, Carolina Baldivieso, and Ana Laura Gutierrez.
The line-up for the Jaguars was Fabiana Peña, Jessica Maureira, Flavia Cortes, Tamara Paz, Stephanie Knize, Nadia Vaca Diez, Nicole Arias, Celita Guanella, Sofia Vallet, Susana Zankiz, Maria Paula Aguirre, Maria Jose Viacava.

JV Boys Volleyball Championship

VICTORY BLUR -- Chaos reigned after the the Jaguars finally sealed their championship.
Julia Boldt, Cooperative.

Jaguars edge Eagles in Topsy-Turvy Thriller

The Cooperative boys junior varsity volleyball rescued itself from a precipitous collapse and rallied to defeat Christian Learning in three sets in Thursday's championship game played in the Jaguars gym.
The Jaguars´ win enabled them to complete an undefeated 8-0 season, but it wasn't easy. The championship was a terrific match marked by long rallies in which both teams were hitting the ball hard and making dazzling saves. They took turns dominating one another, then went at it hammer and tongs in a deciding set decided by just two points.

_____________

BIG HITTER -- Jaguar Josue Abuawad (1) prepares to pound a ball that Giorgio Rodrigano has just gone down on his knees to retrieve.
Julia Boldt, Cooperative

_____________

The action was accompanied by the loudest crowd noise in recent memory as a determined group of Jaguar students, led by their cheerleaders, actually outshouted a larger (but less concentrated) band of Eagle adherents, which may never have happened before.
Cooperative got off to the faster start in the opening set, jumping off to an 11-6 lead and then hanging onto that margin during furious rallies. The Little Jaguars were consistently able to set the ball up for their big man, Josue Abuawad, who responded by unleashing hard,accurate spikes.
However, the Little Eagles were often capable of handling the hits and firing the ball back as fast as it had come. On one early point Abuawad unleashed five consecutive spikes, which were all returned. The sixth one, though, proved the charm and the Jaguars took the point.
The Jaguars , for their part, were able to handle the hard serves of Gaston Waldman, Felipe Arce and Haziel Martinez, who had overwhelmed many Christian Learning opponents. The Eagle servers also seemed to lack the precision they had shown in earlier games, possibly because they were pumping a little too much adrenalin into their veins for the championship contest.
The second set was a different story altogether. This time it was Christian Learning getting out in front 8-4, aided by some strong serves by Martinez. At that point Arce came to the line and his solid serving, though usually returned by Cooperative, seemed to steady his teammates. Now it was Christian Learning that was methodically setting the ball up for its front men, and Cooperative that was making the errors.
The Eagles took the next 13 points in a row, before allowing the Jaguars another point, then zipped through the final four points to win 25-5, the worst one-set thrashing any volleyball team has inflicted on another this season.
One almost wondered if Cooperative would answer the bell for the third set, but the Jaguars came out and quickly established that they were not going to roll over for the upstart Eagles. The Jaguars returned to their earlier form, and step-by-step built a 10-5 lead.
But at that point the Eagles began a counterattack that brought the score to 14-13 -- and the crowd to its feet -- before the Jaguars got the final point on an Eagle misplay.

The line-up for Christian Learning was Arce, Richard Enns, Cesar Flores, Martinez, Jose Merco, Wesley Ordoñez, Claudio Sandoval and Waldman.
It was a somewhat anticlimactic ending to what had been a glorious match, but the Jaguars were cvlearly willing to take it. Mayhem ensued as screaming Cooperative fans streamed onto the court to embrace the victors Jaguars who leaped and yelled in exultation, several stripping off their jerseys.

The line-up for the victorious Jaguars was Abuawad, Alejandro Rosas, Eduardo Ribera, Luis Peredo, Rodrigo Adriazola, Cho Jang Ho, Mathew DeLozier, Fernando Viacava, Jorge Zankiz, Mateus Belmonte, G. Rodriguez, and Sebastian Zankiz.

Knights rise to third place, beating Griffins

The Cambridge boys junior varsity volleyball team, which had one only one other game this season, came up big against International in the consolation game played Thursday at Cooperatitive, winning in straight sets.
The win gave them third place for the year.
_____________


EXULTATION -- Cambridge players Andres (1) and Santiago Hurtado (3) and Federico Rocco (10)celebrate after nailing final point. Jonatan Muñoz, International

____________

The Junior Knights jumped out to a quick 5-1 lead in the first set on the stong serving of Andres Hurtado, and held that four-point advantage until they led 10-6, at which point they seemed to improve their consistency.
Their lead grew to 14-6, and then 18-9 and 20-11. International began to come back at that point, but it was too late and Cambridge was able to close out the first set 25-16.
In the second set International seemed to have rallied, and it was the Griffins who held the upper hand by two or three points all the way until the Knights were able to knot the score at 23-all. The Knights then quickly took the next two points to take the set and the match.
The line-up for the Knights was Diego Bejar, Hurtado, Jose Rivero, Santiago Hurtado, Kevin Mendez, and Federico Rocco.
The line-up for International was Claudio Vinicunis, German Ferraris, Alejandro Saldano, Jose Sciaroni, Vitor Santas, Juan Narvaez, Arturo Barrientos, Jorge Ortiz, and Hans Hartmann.

JV Boys Volleyball Semifinals

Eagle JV breezes to win over Griffins

The Christian Learning boys junior varsity volleyball team had little difficulty getting past International in their semifinal playoff game Tuesday in the International gym.
_______________

SERVING WITH HONOR -- Haziel Martinez (7) was one of three Eagle players whose serves dominated the match.
Jonatan Muñoz, International

_______________

The Eagle boys took the first set 25-11, and had even less trouble in the second, winning 25-8.
The Griffins will now face Cooperative, winner of the other semifinal pairing, in Thursday's championship game. International will take on Cambridge in the consolation game.
The Eagles won largely on the strong right arms of Gaston Waldman, Felipe Arce, and Haziel Martinez, whose strong service stints were the key to Christian learning's dominance in the match.
International actually jumped out to a 6-0 lead in the first set, getting strong serves from Arturo Barrientos. But then Waldman went to work from the service line and propelled the Eagles into the lead 8-7. The Eagles were never headed after that.
They broke the first set open during the serves of Martinez, who took the Eagles from a 14-10 advantage to 18-10. The string of points was punctuated by a resounding spike from Arce.
Arce's service finished off the set. Artfully changing speeds, his serves seemed to flummox the Griffins as the Eagles took the final six points.
There was more of the same in the second set. The two teams sparred early on, as Christian Learning built a lead. Then at 16-8 Waldman went to the line again, and now apparently fully warmed up unleashed a string of cannon shot serves that were the key factor in the Eagles taking the final nine points of the set to win it and the match.
In addition to Arce, Martinez, and Waldman, the Eagle line-up included, Richard Enns, Cesar Flores, Jose Mercado, Wesley Ordoñez, and Claudio Sandoval.


Jaguars have no problem getting past Knights


The Cooperative boys junior varsity volleyball team polished off Cambridge in straight sets in their semifinal match played at Cooperative Tuesday afternoon.
The Jaguars will now play Christian Learning in the championship game Thursday, and Cambridge will play International in the consolation game.
Cooperative won the first set 25-14, and then took the second set 25-16.
The line-up for the victorious Jaguars was Josue Abuawad, Alejandro Rosas, Eduardo Ribera, Luis Peredo, Rodrigo Adriazola, Jang Ho Cho, Mathew Delozier, Fernando Viacava, Jorge Zankis, Sebastian Zankis, and Giorgio Rodrigano.
The roster for Cambridge was Santiago Hurtado, Kevin Mendez, Diego Bejar, Andres Hurtado, Federico Rocco, and Jose Rivera.

JV Girls Volleyball Semifinals

HIGH HEAT -- Griffin Ciara Harriague leaps up to smash home one of her patented "fast balls." Jonatan Muñoz, International

Griffinettes easy winners over Eaglettes

The International junior varsity girls scored a 2-0 win over Christian Learning in the girls semifinal game played at International Tuesday, but to do it they had to suppress an attempted Eagle comeback in the second set.
The Griffins will now face Cooperative in the championship game Thursday: The Jaguars, who finished first in the regular season, drew a by in the semifinals. Cambridge did not field a team.
The International girls cruised to an easy win in the first set, 25-13. The Griffins jumped out to an early 8-1 lead, largely on the strength of strong serves by Ciara Harriague. The Eagles cut the lead down to 15-10, but Harriague went back to the service line and put the game more or less on ice as she reeled off seven straight points, two of them clean aces.
When she finally hit a serve long International was clearly in command, 21-11, and closed out the victory in short order after that.
The second set was a different story as the two teams battled evenly all the way to 19-19. Many of the points were decided on serves -- better or worse. Both sides hit a number of bad serves, and both sides had trouble keeping the ball in play when the serve was good. There were only a few long rallies.
After the tie at 19 Pamela Suarez fired in three hard serves, one of them an ace, to move the Griffins into the lead, and after the score went to 23-21 another hard-serving Griffin. Maria Fernanda Gutierrez,fired in a pair of fast serves to complete the Griffin victory.
The Griffins also got outstanding play from Nicole Sinclair in receiving the ball and making key saves.
Rebekah Kienzle was the outstanding player for Christian Learning.
The other players on the victorious Griffin team were Carolina Baldivieso, Irene Vergara, Fabiana Zelada, Renati Maggi, Katherin Ceballos, Micaela Pedrazas, and Ana Laura Gutierrez.
Besides Kienzle, the Eagle line-up included Jessica Schroeder, Rebecca Enns, Emily Ordoñez, Michelle Ling, Jessica Suarez, Luara Velarde, Veronica Apodaca, Elizabeth Suarez, and Emily Mercado.

Boys Varsity Soccer

JUMP BALL -- Eagle goalie Mark Salinas, two Jaguars, and an Eagle teammate (apparently in custody) wait for a descending ball. Carlos Paredes, Cooperative

Cooperative 3, Christian Learning 2
Jaguars stay unbeaten, but barely

The Cooperative boys varsity soccer team secured first place in the regular season, and preserved its undefeated record, with a 3-2 victory over Christian Learning on their home field Thursday.
The Jaguars scored first when Jose Manuel Vasquez brought the ball down the left side of the field and launched a perfect centering pass that was knocked into the goal by Wilson Salvatierra.

There were numerous near misses by both teams, including a booming shot by Eagle Danny Canaviri that dinged off the goalpost, but there was no more scoring in the first half.

Conway Janzen tied the game with a goal for the Eagles early in the second half. However, the Jaguars struck back with two goals in rapid succession, one by Federico Sauto and and the other by Vasquez, in which Cooperative took the ball right up the middle through the Eagle defense.

Josh Mojica retaliated for the Eagles to make the score 3 to 2, where it would stand at the end, though Luis Doi almost tied it up with a blast that went just wide. On the other hand, Cooperative had two shots in the second half that bounced off the goalposts.

The Eagles finish the season with a 3-3 record, in second place.
More details to come.

Griffins grind out 3-0 win over Knights

By Camilla Johnson
International School

The International boys varsity soccer team decisively defeated Cambridge 3-0 on their home field Thursday.
Johann Voss scored the first goal for International when he finished off a crisply executed series of passes with a well placed shot into the Cambridge goal. That was the only scoring in the first half.
International added two more goals in the second half. The first came when Jorge Harriague opportunistically tapped in a ball that had been fumbled by the Cambridge goalie. Then Voss scored again by heading in a crossing pass.
Both teams had numerous other chances to score as the ball shuttled back and forth across the field, but weren't able to capitalize on them.
The Griffin defense was able to contain Cambridge's main scoring threat, Junior Sanchez, and this was a major factor in changing the outcome from the 3-3 tie that had occurred when they played earlier in the season.
Cambridge finishes the year without a win, and only the tie with International to go with its five losses.
This was a comedown from last year when the Knights were the League champions. However, it is the second year in a row that the defending champion has gone winless in the following season. The winless defending champion last year was International
International finishes in third place with a record of 2-3-1.

JV Boys Soccer

Little Griffins beat Knights, finish first

The International junior varsity boys soccer team defeated Cambridge 4-0 on their home field to take first place in the regular season standings. Cambridge finishes third.
The Little Griffin scored twice in each half. Claudio Santos and Jose Coloma scored the goals in the first half: Santos scored again in the second half, and the fourth goal was added by Santiago Rosado.
International (5-1) will play Christian Learning (0-6) in the first round of the junior varsity playoffs. Cambridge (2-3-1) will meet Cooperative (4-1-1).
__________________________

PUSHING THE EDGE -- Jaguar Jose David Sanchez and an (as yet) unidentified Eagle jockey for position. Carlos Paredes, Cooperative

Jaguar JV shuts out Eagles 3-0

The Cooperative junior varsity boys soccer team defeated Christian Learning 3-0 on their home field Thursday afternoon.
Jorge Zankiz scored the first of his two goals for the Jaguars thanks to a booming crossing pass from teammate Jose Salvatierra that Zankiz was able to take in stride and pop into the goal.
_____________

THE VIEW FROM ABOVE -- Jaguar Jose Sanchez (10) launches a corner kick. Julia Boldt, Cooperative

_____________

Zankiz scored his second goal when a defender swung and missed in an effort to clear the ball, after which Zankiz headed the ball to himself to get past the goalkeeper.
Jaguar captain Rafael Sakuma added the third goal when he kicked in a rebound following a corner kick.
The win put the Jaguars in second place for the regular season with a 4-1-1 record. Christian Learning finished last with an 0-6 mark.

Varsity Girls Volleyball

RESPONSE TEAM -- Jaguars Ana Paola Peredo (8) and Karla Flores go up together to block a shot. Carlos Paredes, Cooperative

Jaguars get a final test from Eagles, pass

The Cooperative girls varsity volleyball team clinched a first-place finish in the regular season with hard-fought three-set victory over an upset-minded Christian Learning team in the Jaguars gym Thursday.
With the competion of regualr season action yesterday, the Jaguars were atop the League with a 5-1 record. The Eagles finished third with a 2-4 record.
The Lady Eagles looked like theiy were poised to bring down the Jaguars when they took the first set 25-19. The Jaguars had taken the lead 11-4, but the Eagles had clawed back to tie the score at 17-all.
Then largely on the strength of superb serving by Kaylynn Lampen they moved out to a 22-19 lead. When the Eagles won the next point after a long rally featuring amazing rescues on both sides, the Jaguars seemed to deflate, and Christian Learning took the last two points in rapid-fire order.
The Jaguars steadied in the next game, then took command, winning 25-15. They then held onto the momentum in the third and deciding set, winning it rather handily 15-8.

Griffins defeat Knights in straight sets

Ther International girls varsity volleyball team defeated Cambridge 2-0 in their ho0me gym Thursday afternoon.
The Cambridge girls put up a good fight in the first set, which was tied 21-21 before the Griffins were able to put on a closing spurt to win 25-22.
In the second set the Griffins did a better job of exploiting Cambridge's weaker players, and the Griffins won more comfortably, 25-19.
International finishes the season in second place with a 4-2 record. Cambridge ends up last with a 1-5 record.

JV Girls Volleyball

Little Jaguars win in three sets

The Cooperative junior varsity girls volleyball team traded one-sided wins with Christian Learning in the opening sets, then came on to win the deciding set in decisive fashion Thursday in their home gym.
The win preserved the Junior Jaguars undefeated 6-0 season and first-place finish. Christian Learning finished second with a record of 0 wins and 0 losses.
The Jaguars took the set 25-15, but their momentum was derailed in the second set, which the Eagles took 25-17.
The Cooperative girls got their touch back in the third set, which they won 15-7.

Varsity Girls Soccer

BLASTING AWAY -- Jaguar Maria Paz Rivero unloads a shot in heavy traffic.
Carlos Paredes, Cooperative

Jaguars perfect to end, blank Eagles 7-0
By Keith Wilcke
Christian Learning
The Cooperative varsity girls soccer team remained unbeaten, untied and unscored-upon through out the entire regular season, finishing the season with a convincing 7-0 win over Christian Learning on trheir home field Tuesday. The common observer would assume that they will remain thus during the upcoming playoff tournament as well.
____________


GETTING BY -- Jaguar Camilla Adriazola (9) tries to work the ball past Eagle defender.
Carlos Paredes, Cooperative

_____________

Passing and shooting with marked precision, they scored from close range and from far -- basically at will -- all afternoon.
Midfielder Maria Paz Rivero opened the scoring with a long blast from straight in front of the Eagle net and the rout was on.
Track star Sofia Sotelo added the first of her three goals on a scramble in front of the net, and Aldana Roda rounded out the first half scoring with a long looping shot over goalie Eagle goalie Erica Kienzle's outstretched arms. The halftime score showed 3-0 in favor of the hosting Jaguars.
The second half was more of the same, with Sotelo tapping in 2 more short range goals and Rivero adding her second goal in very similar fashion to her first.
The Eagles did manage to score a goal in the game, but unfortunately it was into their own goal. A a mis-kick by one of the Eagle defenders trickled into their own net to end the contest with a final score of 7-0.
____________________________

LOOK BEATRIZ, YOUR SHOE IS UNTIED! -- Knight Maria Fornaguera tries to push past the outstretched foot of Griffin Beatriz Nallar. Juan Carlos Coronel, Cambridge

Golazo! Griffins whip winless Knights, 9-1

Two different players scored hat tricks as the International girls varsity soccer team finished its regular season with a thumping 9-0 win over Cambridge on the Griffins home field Tuesday.
The score was 4-0 at the half.
Both Maria Victoria Gutierrez and Beatriz Nallar tallied three goals for International in the course of the rout. Ana Karina Marin tallied two, and Matilde Gamarra had one.
Maria Fornaguera scored the Knights lone goal. It was the first goal the Cambridge girls had scored this season.
The Griffins finish the season tied for second place in the League with Christian Learning. Boths schools posted 3-3 records. Cambriudge finishes last with an 0-6 record.

JV Girls Soccer

CRISIS MANAGEMENT -- Jaguar defender Jessica Maureria (6) tries to clear the ball (top photo) with Maureen Harrison (5) on her wing. Maureria and the Jaguar goalie finally get things under control (bottom photo) just as Eagles Emily Ordoñez (2) and Samia Dajbura close in for the kill. Harrison ultimately sits this one out. Carlos Paredes, Cooperative

Little Eagles Blemish Jaguar Escutcheon

Finally someone was able to displace a Jaguar girls soccer team from first place. The Christian Learning and Cooperative junior varsity soccer teams fought to a 0-0 tie in the last game of the season Tuesday on the Jaguars field, and that outcome enabled the Eaglettes to claim the regular season championship banner.
It didn't hurt that the Little Eagles won the post game shootout, which entitled them to an extra point bin the standings that further cemented their hold on first place. By finishing first the Eagles get a bye into the JV championship game. Cooperative and International will play a semifinal to determine who the second team will be.
Christian Learning and Cooperative played to ties in both their meetings this year, but the Eagles had won both their meetings with International, while the Jaguars had tied in one of their games with that team. The Jaguars could have gotten back into first place only by winning Tuesday's game outright.
The game was played on a mostly even basis, with neither team giving the opposing goalie much of a challenge. Eagle Emily Ordoñez perhaps came as close to scoring as any player on either team when in the first half she got off a shot during a collision with the Jaguar goalkeeper, but the ball dribbled just outside of the post.
In the shootout Sandi Wilcke, Isabela Diaz and Emily Mercado made their shots for the Eagles. Kassandra Morales and Maureen Harrison nailed theirs for the Jaguars.

Varsity Boys Volleyball

BOIIINNNGGG!!! -- The Jaguars can whack the ball when they need to, as Jaguar captain Juan Alfredo Abuawad demonstrates here. Carlos Paredes, Cooperative


Undefeated Jags beat 2d-Place Eagles 2-0

The Cooperative varsity boys volleyball team, playing with matchless precision and consummate finesse, easily defeated Christian Learning Tuesday in their home gym Tuesday to finish the season with a spotless 6-0 record.
____________

GOING FOR THE BLOCK --Mateus de Carvalho leaps to stop an Eagle shot. Carlos Paredes, Cooperative

______________

The 2009 Jaguars will no doubt long be remembered for the mastery they showed against their competition this year, losing only one set all season. That set had been to the Eagles, but Tuesday's game was a much more one-sided affair.
The Jaguars took the first set 25-17, leading all the way. They were even more dominant in the second set, winning 25-11.
The Eagles had managed to keep the second set interesting in the early going, and were actually within one point of the Jaguars at 8-7. But after that Cooperative seemed to go into turbodrive.
Are they really that good? "They were today," said Eagles coach Tim Gale after the game. "We made some little mistakes. They didn't make any."
Precision was indeed the hallmark of the Jaguars play. They kept the ball in play with some saves that amazed the crowd, but, amazingly, failed to surprise the players, who seemed to expect them.
Jaguar Coach Jesus Flores said after the game that ball control is what he has tried to teach the players. When returning, the players are told to go for the open spot, to keep the ball going deep, and only try to put the ball away when everything is perfectly aligned.
And the Jaguars did as they were told.





HIGH FIVES -- Knight, Griffin both prepare to hammer ball falling right in between them.Juan Carlos Coronel, Cambridge

Knights score a big win over Griffins, 2-0

The Cambridge varsity boys volleyball team won its first regular season game since at least 2006 with a straight sets victory over International at the International gym Tuesday.
____________

FLYING GRIFFIN -- Griffin goes high to try to hammer the ball past Knights double-block.
Juan Carlos Coronel, Cambridge

____________

Cambridge played almost flawless defense, while the Griffins were plagued with unforced errors and seemed unable to make key set-ups to their best hitters.
Cambridge took the first set handily, 25-13. Things tightened up in the second set, but the Knights continued to hold the advantage, and prevailed 25-21.

JV Boys Volleyball

Jaguar JV gain tough win over Eagles

The Cooperative junior varsity boys volleyball team finished its season undefeated, but to do so it had to take a hard-fought three-set match against Christian Learning Tuesday in their home gym.
The Little Jaguars took the first set 25-22, but to do it they had to come from behind.
The Little Eagles led in the set at one point 20-14, and seemed to be well on the way to winning it. However, Cooperative rallied to even the score at 22-all, and then take the final three points. On the last one a spectacular kick save enabled the Jaguars to keep the ball in play.
The second set was similarly hard-fought, but the Jaguars worked their way to a two point advantage at 16-14, held onto that edge until 19-17, then took the final six points to win the set 25-17.
But the momentum then switched sides, returning to the Jaguars in the deciding third set. Cooperative took the lead early, moved out to a 12-6 advantage, then nailed down the final three points to take the set 15-6 and win the match.

GIVING WAY -- One Cambridge player gets out of the way to let a teammate make the return. Juan Carlos Coronel, Cambridge

Knight JV upends Griffins in straight sets

The Cambridge junior varsity boys volleyball team defeated the Griffins 2-1 in their meeting Tuesday in the Griffins gym.
Cambridge's win created a tie for third place in the League that will be decided on point differential to figure out the pairings for the playoffs. Both teams have 1-5 records.
The Griffins took the first set of the match 25-21, but the Knights came back to take the second set by the exact same score, 25-21. The Griffins then were afflicted by an acute attack of the yips, making a series of nervous errors while the Knights kept their cool and took the third set easily, 15-4.

Varsity Boys Soccer

FIGHTING ON THE EDGE -- Eagle Richard Ling (7) battles Knight Raul Prudencio (5) on border of penalty box. Gabriel Alonso (14) looks on. Ruth Nyquist, Christian Learning

Eagles take wing, beat Knights 4-2

By Keith Wilcke
Christian Learning
The Christian Learning varsity boys soccer team outplayed Cambridge, winning 4-2 in a game played at Cooperative Thursday.
The score was tied 1-1 at the half, but the Eagles flew out of reach in the second half. Only the individual artistry of Junior Sanchez kept the Knights near the high flying Eagles.
The feathered raptors Eagles scored first early in the first half when Luis Doi tapped in a corner kick. (He had hit the crossbar just a few moments earlier.)
Sanchez immediately answered for the Knights and the score was knotted at half time.
In the second half, the Eagles took control of the ball and the scoreboard. Two quick tallies by Eagle standout Josh Mojica, one on a free kick and one from the field, gave them a 3-1 lead.
Richard Ling then added some insurance with a header into the net off a nice feed from deep in the right corner by Danny Canaviri, leaving the Eagles in front 4-1.
Sanchez worked some magic late in the game, characteristically dribbling through several defenders and finessing his second goal into the cage behind Mark Salinas to round out the scoring.
Cambridge fans called for their star to complete a hat trick, and he nearly did, but Eagle sweeper Andres Larsen decided it wasn’t to be on this day and stopped the shot.
Mojica and Larsen received yellow cards. There were no other penalty cards issued.


NEAR MISS -- Jaguar defender heads out of danger a Griffin shot that appeared headed for the upper right corner of the goal.
Jonatan Muñoz, International

Jaguars edge Griffins in cliffhanger, 2-1

The Cooperative boys varsity soccer team kept its undefeated status intact, but it wasn't easy against a Griffin team playing on its home field that challenged them relentlessly before succumbing 2-1.
The win assures the Jaguars of a first-place finish in the regular season, and gives them a chance to finish undefeated if they can beat Christian Learning in next week's season finale, achievements the Cooperative boys haven't accomplished in years.
Cooperative will then play either Cambridge or International in the first round of the post-season tournament, depending on which of the latter two schools wins their clash next week.
The Jaguars scored first Thursday as Jose Manuel Vasquez hammered in the first of his two goals.
The Griffins evened the score at 1-1 shortly thereafter when Andres Estenssoro cleverly redirected a free kick onto the goal with his head. That score held until the half, though both teams threatened on numerous occasions.
Vasquez struck again in the second half to provide the winning margin, though the lead looked anything but safe as the Griffins had several near misses. The Jaguars also had chances to widen their lead that came to naught.

JV Boys Soccer

THE RACE IS ON -- A mixed posse of Eagles and Knights takes off after the ball.
Julia Boldt, Cooperative

Knight JV hands Eagles a 4-0 loss

The Cambridge junior varsity boys soccer team hammered out a decisive 4-0 win over Christian Learning in a game played at Cooperative Thursday.

Knight Anthony Salvatierra did all the necessary damage with a pair of first half goals. Kevin Mendez and Juan Carlos Paniagua rounded out the scoring for the Knights with goals in the second half.

UNMATCHED PAIR -- Jaguar Richard Salvatierra and Griffin Joaquin Wray take convergent paths to the ball. Jonatan Muñoz, International

Little Griffins 2-0 winners over Jags

The International junior varsity boys soccer team scored once in each half while holding the Junior Jaguars scoreless to notch a 2-0 victory.

Joaquin Wray scored the first goal for the Griffins, and Javier Barron accounted for the second.

Varsity Girls Volleyball

PARDON MY BACK -- Jaguar Ana Paola Justiniano backtaps the ball over, as Griffin Ines Fernandez rises to block it.
Jonatan Muñoz, International

A Day of Surprises
Griffins shock Jaguars with 2-0 win

The International girls varsity volleyball team upset previously undefeated Cooperative in a furiously contested match in the International gym Thursday.
In a matched that experienced observers thought was the best played of the year the Griffins seemed to hit the ball just a little bit harder than their opponents and won in straight sets.
And it seemed that the longer the two teams played the harder the Griffins hit then ball, though both teams made astonishing saves, and carefully worked the ball to theitr big hitters throughout the match. Most points were decided on long rallies.
The Jaguars jumped out to an early lead, 5-1 in the first set, but the Griffins steadied and got the score back within one point at 9-8 in favor of the Jaguars.
Cooperative spurted again, but the Griffins pulled even at 16-16, and then managed to gain a flickering two- or three-point lead that they held onto all the way to the end of the set, which they won 25-23.
Momentum continued to swing back and forth through the middle stages of the second set. The teams were tied at 10-all, then Cooperative surged in front by three at 13-10, only to be caught at 13-13.
But then the Griffins seemed to take charge, holding the lead all the way to the end, though the Jaguars would get within one point at 17-16.
Once the Griffins got to 20-points they seemed to be off to the races, and wrapped up the set 25-19 to take the match.
The outcome returned the spirit of parity that has been the hallmark of girls volleyball in recent years. International could still conceivably tie Cooperative for first place in the regular season were the Griffins to defeat Christian Learning next week, and the Jaguars were to lose to Cambridge.

And the playoffs are suddenly looking much more interesting.

Lady Knights shock Eagles with 3-set win

The previously winless Cambridge girls volleyball team defeated Christian Learning 2-1 in a match played at Cooperative Thursday.

The Knights came out shooting and won the opening set with little difficulty, 25-14.

The second set was a much more even affair, and the Eagles were able to even the match at a set apeiece with a 26-24 victory.

The Knights came back to set the pace in the final set, which they won 15-11 to take the match.

The Knights had played well for periods of time in their previous games, but had never been able to sustain high performance long enough to prevail.

The victory Thursday was Cambridge's first win in varsity competition this year. But it may not be the last.

JV Girls Volleyball

THRILL OF VICTORY -- Little Jaguars exult after come-from-behind win.
Jonatan Muñoz, International

Jaguars win thriller over Griffins

The Cooperative junior varsity girls volleyball team spotted International a one-set advantage, then stormed back to win in three sets in a match played at Internbational Thursday.
The Little Griffins had appeared to be headed for a big upset, in comparatively easy fashion, as they took the opening set 25-11.
However, the Little Jaguars made clear that it was not going to be that easy as they came back to win the second set 25-20.
The climactic third set was heart-stoppingly exciting and played in front of an unusually large crowd of fans from both schools, who screamed encouragement at their teams.
International led narrowly most of the game and opened a 14-10 advantage, seemingly placing victory within grasp. The Junior Jaguars steadied at that point, however, and took the next six points to win the set 16-14 and take the match.

Girls Varsity Soccer

BYE BYE BALL -- Griffin goalie Matilde Gamarra reaches in vain to stop Aldana Roda's shot. Jonatan Muñoz, International

Jaguars subdue Griffins 3-0, stay unblemished

The Cooperative girls varsity soccer team notched its fifth win of the season and kepts its unscored-upon record intact with a 3-0 win, but was seriously challenged by International on the Griffins field Thursday.
Aldana Roda got the first Jaguar goal midway through the first half when she launched a booming kick from outside the penalty area that arced just beyond the reach of Griffin goalie Matilde Gamarra and just below the crossbar.
Shortly before the intermission Tania Landivar tapped in a rebound to make the score 2-0 at the break.
In the second half Landivar scored again when she finished off with a smartly kicked ball a sequence of rapid, forward-moving passes that pulled Gamarra out of position.
The Jaguars had numerous other opportunities to score, but the Griffins had their chances too. At one point in the second half the Griffins took charge of the game and forced a sequence of corner kicks, but were unable to get the ball in the goal.
To complete their undefeated-unscored-up streaks the Jaguars now must only get past Christian Learning next Tuesday, but that team has suddenly shown an offensive spark that could make the contest interesting.

EYES ON THE PRIZE -- Eagle Abby Phillips and Knight Xiomara Vaca go for the ball.
Ruth Nyquist, Christian Learning

Eagle girls explode against Cambridge, 5-0

By Keith Wilcke
Christian Learning
Storm the Knights' castle! The Eagles have landed.

The Christian Ledarning girls varsity soccer team took control of the ball and soared to a 5-0 victory in a game played at Cooperative Tuesday afternoon.
Both teams manned the gates in the first half which ended 0-0.
The Lady Knights did their best to man the gates, but the Eagles breached the keep and took the fortress. Cambridge goalie Raquel Lopez did her best, but the Eagles kept hammering away at short range until they broke through in what would be their biggest offensive explosion of the year.
In the first half, Christian Learning ninth graders ruled as Abby Phillips broke through for her first goal of the season, and Jessica Smith added two more to her total, making the score 3-0 at the break.
Things went even more the Eagles' way in the second half, during which the Christian Learning goalie, senior Erica Kienzle, only had to handle the ball once. The defense in front of her kept the Lady Knights swimming in their own moat.
Meanwhile, the Eagle forwards did more damage, with Laura Lindahl and Jihea Ahn each adding a tally to make the final score 5-0.
The game was superlative for the SCCLC Eagles, but heart-breaking for the Cambridge Knights, who played with energy and grace throughout despite the lopsided result.

JV Girls Soccer

SHE GOT IT -- Griffin goalkeeper Katherin Ceballos prepares to catch shot by Samantha Bennet during shootout won by Cooperative 1-0. Jonatan Muñoz, International

Jaguar, Griffin JVs in scoreless tie

By Keith Wilcke
Christian Learning
The Cooperative and International junior varsity girls soccer teams battled to a 0-0 tie on a hot afternoon at International.
Both teams played the entire game one player short of the 11 normally allowed because of absences due to injuries or illness. Neither team had many real chances to punch in a goal and break the scoreless deadlock, though Griffinette standout Antonia Maggi lost several opportunities on offsides calls.
The Jaguarinas received the extra point awarded in the standings for winning the postgame penalty shot shootout that League rules call for in the case of ties. The won the shootout 1-0 on the strength of Megumi Kamiya’s lone tally.
The tie perhaps had the greatest effect on the team that wasn't there -- Christian Learning. The Little Eagles, who were idle Tuesday, now have a two-point lead in the standings, meaning they could win first place in the regular season by tying Cooperative in the final game next week. Cooperative would have to win outright to claim victory in the regular season.

Boys Varsity Volleyball

SHOW OF FORCE -- Jaguar Mateus de Carvalho rams home a shot for the penultimate point of the first set. Jonatan Muñoz, International

Jaguars masterful in 2-0 win over Griffins

By Maria Claudia Bernal

International School

The Cooperative boys varsity volleyball team defeated International in straight sets in the International gym Tuesday afternoon.
Not even the advice and encouragement of Pablo Muñoz, star of International's championship 2007 team who was back for a visit, could help the Griffins solve the relentless attack of the Jaguars.
The Jaguars are now 5-0, and have only been forced to a third set once this season. That was done by Christian Learning, which will get one more chance against the league-leaders when those two teams meet next week.
Cooperative did not overpower International in the way that Muñoz' team sometimes did. Instead the Jaguars prevailed in long rallies largely by refusing to make mistakes, and making artful saves to keep the ball in play.

The Jaguars were the bigger team, but often seemed to prefer to use their height advantage to slap the ball into undefended spots rather than to blast it into the floor -- though they did that too.
The Jaguars jumped on top early in the opening set 4-0, and enjoyed leads of 16-5 and 22-9, before the Griffins rallied at the end to cut the lead to a final count of 25-16.
The second set was a more even affair, and the teams were actually tied 13-13 before the Jaguars began to move ahead, gradually opening a lead until they led by four, 22-18. They then added the final three points in relatively rapid order to win the set 25-18 and take the match.

UP IN THE AIR -- Eagle Jesse Hallock tries to blast ball past Knights Jose Rivera (9) and Alvaro Lopez (2). Ruth Nyquist, Christian Learning

Eagles fly high against Knights, win 2-0

The Christian Learning boys varsity volleyball team kept alive its chance to tie for first place in the regular season with a straight sets win over Cambridge Tuesday afternoon in a match played in the Cooperative gym.
The Eagles are now 4-1 with their loss coming at the hands of undefeated Cooperative, now 5-0. The two teams clash in the season finale next Tuesday.
Christian Learning won both sets on Tuesday by the identical scores of 25-19.

JV Boys Volleyball

WRITING ON THE WALL -- Griffin defender goes up to block a Jaguar return, but scoreboard shows Jaguars' advantage. Jonatan Muñoz, International

Jaguars easily outpace Griffins, 2-0

The Cooperative junior varsity boys volleyball stretched its unbeaten streak to five games with a convincing straight sets victory over International in the International gym Tuesday.
The Little Jaguars took the first set 25-9, and the second 25-17.

HERE'S THE WIND-UP -- Eagle Haziel Martinez prepares to put some seriuous energy into his return. Ruth Nyquist, Christian Learning

Eagle JV tops Knights in straight sets

The Christian Learning boys junior varsity volleyball team had little trouble defeating Cambridge 2-0 in a match played Tuesday at Cooperative.
The Eagles won the first set 25-13, and then had only marginally more difficulty taking the second 25-19.