Griffins defeat Cambridge in three sets
The International girls volleyball team had a lot of trouble with Cambridge, as they have all year, but finally defeated the Lady Knights in three sets, as they have twice before this year.
International, which had finished first during the regular season, and had lost only one game prior to being upset by Christian Learning in the playoff semifinals, took the first set 25-21. The two teams had battled evenly until the score was knotted at 13-13, after which International was able to move out to a three- or four-point lead, which they held all the way to the end.
Things turned around in the second with Cambridge getting out to an early lead, which it eventually stretched to six points at 20-14. International then tried to rally, and cut the Knights margin down to four at 23-19, but Cambridge put on a short spurt to win 25-20.
International coach Eli Vilar singled out Melisa Roca for her all-around play. "She was the saviour of the game," Vilar said. "She did everything."
Cambridge players were in tears after the game, partially because of the loss, and partially because of the injury suffered by Knight Helen Yong, who apparently hyper extended her ankle or knee after adroitly tipping the ball over the net for a point early in the second set. "When Helen is missing, something s missing from the team," said Ana Saavedra. Besides being an intrepid setter and hard server, Yong often puled the team up emotionally.
The line-up for the victorious Griffins was Fabiana Murillo, Arianne Nostas, Ines Fernandez, Roca, Estefania Gioto, Maria Paula Acosta, Soraya Dajbura, Diana Paola Melgar, Maria Gutierrez, and Laura Adriazola.
For the Knights, Yong, Saavedra, Camila Johnson, Denise Castillo, Maria Fornaguera, Vania Rueda, Valeria Escaño, Alejandra Valdivia, and Mariana Escaño.
