Griffins get a scare, but win 2-0
The International girls varsity volleyball team fell seriously behind early in the first set in its match against Christian Learning Thursday, but rallied to win in straight sets.
These same two teams had engaged in a knock-down, drag-out battle in last year's championship game, which International won, but the Griffins looked to be the stronger team on paper this year measured by losses through graduation.
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IT'S ALL IN THE WRIST -- Griffin Fabiana Murillo (No. 7) tries to tap in a winner against a leaping Eagle. Jonatan Muñoz, International
However, the Eagle girls served notice early that they will again be a team to be reckoned with as they took an 8-3 lead, dominating the Griffins who made a number of bad serves and committed other unforced errors.
The Griffins evened the count on the fine serving of Ariane Nostas, who is back from an exchange program. The two teams then battled on an equal basis until the score was deadlocked at 13-all. At that point the Griffins seemed to take charge, and built a five-point lead at 20-15.
The Eagles were not quite ready to roll over, however, and battled back to within one point at 21-20. The final phase of the set consisted of an exchange of bad serves as player after player on both sides put just a little bit too much mustard on the ball, hitting it out, a typical early season problem.
International finally won 25-23.
The second set was almost as hard fought. The two teams were tied at 17-all. Many points were decided only after long rallies. Eagle Tabitha Malloy, the tallest player on the court, along with Hannah Moss, Hannah Swindoll, and Alejandra Valencia played well for the Eagles. Fabiana Murillo and Melisa Roca made great hits for the Griffins.
Both teams were able to make saves off the net that surprised their opponents. And both sides were able to handle most short-range spikes. The points were more often made by hitting open spots in the backcourt.
International was the steadier team, however, and prevailed in the second set 25-20 to take the match 2-0.
Talk about topsy-turvy!
Jaguars beat Knights 2-1 in wild one
The Cooperative girls varsity volleyball team finally emerged victorious in their contest against Cambridge Thursday in their home gym, but only after losing the first set 19-25 to the Lady Knights.
In the second set either the Jaguars pulled themselves together or the Knights fell apart (depending on your point of view), and the Jaguars triumphed 25-7.
Things returned to more of a balance in the third and deciding set, but the Jaguars prevailed 15-11, thank to excellent serving by Veronica Richter, together with some great sets and saves from Karla Flores and excellent passes bythe Jaguars lone senior Alexia Handal.
For Cambridge, Helen Yong played excellent volleyball, while Ana Saavedra made several spectacular diving "digs."
