Griffin Francisco Gonzales (13) tries to block Eagle Pablo Oh's spikeJonatan Muñoz, International School
Tough match goes three sets
International barely escapes against Eagles
From coaches' reports
In a fiercely contested match in which both teams demonstrated dramatically improved skills, International ultimate wrestled a 2-1 victory away from a tenacious Christian Learning squad Thursday afternoon in the Eagles' gym.
The Eagles took the first set 26-24, with many of the points being decided only after long, varsity-length rallies, and the lead changing hands many times. It marked only the second set the Griffins JV boys had lost this year.
International then appeared to rally in the second game, and aided by several Eagle service errors built an 18-9 lead, which they then basically held to win 25-16.
The scene was then set for the deciding set, which couldn't have been closer. The two teams were within a point of each other for the entire game, with ties at 13-13 and 14-14.
At that point the Eagles seemed to become unnerved when the referee took the ball away from them and gave International a point when the Eagle player took too long to serve. It had appeared that International was going to make a substitution.
International siezed the initiative and took the next two points to win 16-14.
The most impressive aspect of the game may have been the high quality of play by both teams. Eagle coach Bob Friessen said after the game he had told his players "not to just hit the ball back," but to put some steam on the ball. That seemed to have been the same instruction that the Griffins had received, but, interestingly, the players' defensive skills were often a match for the new offensive intensity.
International showed finer technique but that seemed to be balanced by Christian Learning's heart and courage. The Eagles made a difference by digging for every ball, and making sure they made good serves. It was a long game, full of emotion. These two teams were definitely working hard to make it to the finals.
International barely escapes against Eagles
From coaches' reports
In a fiercely contested match in which both teams demonstrated dramatically improved skills, International ultimate wrestled a 2-1 victory away from a tenacious Christian Learning squad Thursday afternoon in the Eagles' gym.
The Eagles took the first set 26-24, with many of the points being decided only after long, varsity-length rallies, and the lead changing hands many times. It marked only the second set the Griffins JV boys had lost this year.
International then appeared to rally in the second game, and aided by several Eagle service errors built an 18-9 lead, which they then basically held to win 25-16.
The scene was then set for the deciding set, which couldn't have been closer. The two teams were within a point of each other for the entire game, with ties at 13-13 and 14-14.
At that point the Eagles seemed to become unnerved when the referee took the ball away from them and gave International a point when the Eagle player took too long to serve. It had appeared that International was going to make a substitution.
International siezed the initiative and took the next two points to win 16-14.
The most impressive aspect of the game may have been the high quality of play by both teams. Eagle coach Bob Friessen said after the game he had told his players "not to just hit the ball back," but to put some steam on the ball. That seemed to have been the same instruction that the Griffins had received, but, interestingly, the players' defensive skills were often a match for the new offensive intensity.
International showed finer technique but that seemed to be balanced by Christian Learning's heart and courage. The Eagles made a difference by digging for every ball, and making sure they made good serves. It was a long game, full of emotion. These two teams were definitely working hard to make it to the finals.
-- This story was written from reports by Claudia Pantoja of International School and from coaches.
Cambridge doesn't show, forfeits to Co-operative
From coaches' reports
The Co-operative junior varsity boys volleyball team won by forfeit against Cambridge Thursday afternoon after Cambridge reported that it was unable to field a team.
