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.
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.
