Civil unrest forces postponements

JV soccer championships re-slated for next week
The current unpleasantness in Santa Cruz has forced a reconfiguration of the schedule for the junior varsity soccer championships scheduled for today (Friday), and possibly the varsity girls semifinal volleyball games currently slated for Monday.
The JV soccer championships are now scheduled for next Wednesday, Oct. 24, at the Co-operative School (the original location).
If there is a strike Monday, the varsity girls semi-final games between International and Co-operative at International, and between Cambridge and Christian Learning at Christian Learning will be played the next day -- Tuesday, October 23 -- together with the boys semifinals already scheduled for that date. The starting times will be adjusted.
The varsity girls soccer game between Christian Learning and Cambridge that was also scheduled for today will not be played. It will be recorded as a 2-0 forfeit loss by Cambridge, which declined to play.
The outcome does not alter the order of finish in the standings, or the pairings for the playoffs. The game was originally scheduled for earlier this month during the regular season and has been postponed three previous times.
For fast, complete reportage of all schedule changes, look to scisl.blogspot.com,always your best source for Santa Cruz Interscholastic Sports League news.

JV Boys Volleyball Championship

Shifting tides bring Griffins victory over Eagles
By MariaClaudia Bernal
International School
The tide of battle shifted twice before the International boys junior varsity volleyball team was able to claim the championship in an epic match against Christian Learning at the International gym Thursday.
The Griffins cruised to an easy win in the first set, then the Eagles won the second set with even great ease, after which International came back to win the deciding set.
"That's volleyball," said Eagles coach Bob Friesen, referring to the way the game had shifted. He was not unhappy with his team's overall performance. "The bumps and hits we were making in the third set were some of the best we've done all year. They played well."
Griffin coach Eli Vilar said she had made the tactical error of making too many substitutions at the beginning of the second set, and then when things started to unravel the team was not able to pull itself together until the third set. "In volleyball if you start to make mistakes, you get nervous, and you make more mistakes."
Things started out with the Eagles being the team that was making mistakes, clearly suffering from championship game jitters. Twice Eagle players unsuccessfully tried to field Griffin serves that were clearly headed out, and there were several bad serves as Eagle players tried too hard to smoke one in.
International, which has a lot of players with potential, was playing well. It fashioned a big lead, winning 20-9 at one point, before Christian Learning rallied to close the gap at the end to 25-19.
The teams then changed side for the second sets -- and roles. The Eagles stopped making unforced errors. The Griffins started making them. Christian Learning rapidly built a lead, and was ahead 22-10 as the game went into its final phase. The Eagles won 25-14, and looked ready to pull off an upset, much as the Co-operative girls had done earlier in the afternoon.
The gym was now full of excitement, with everyone cheering. The two teams battled relentlessly at the start, but International seemed to be gaining the edge. A couple of kills by Eagle Andre Larsen closed the gap to 8-7 in favor of International, but after that the Griffins showed that when they play up to their potential they are unbeatable.
They pulled away, aided by some strong serving, finally triumphing 15-8. On the last point an Eagle tried valiantly to save the day by kicking the ball straight up so high it hit the ceiling of the gym.
The line-up for the champion Griffins: Juan Sebastian Narvaez, Lucas Ribeiro, Carlos Velasco, Alejandro Saldana, Luis Felipe Quiroga, Francisco Gonzales, Victor Wang, Rodrigo Anglarill, and Harold Garay.
For the runner-up Eagles: Andre Larsen, Ji Hun Chun, Nicols Smith, Pablo Oh, Jesse Mann, Taylan Schroeder, Alex Valencia, Cesar Flores.
(PHOTO ABOVE) Eagle Andre Larsen hammers home a point-winning spike in the third set -- but it wasn't enough.



WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS! Griffin JV boys and Jaguar JV girls wear their gold medals proudly. The coaches (at right in both pictures) are Eli Vilar for International and Misty Skidmore for Co-operative.
Jonatan Muñoz, International School

JV Girls Volleyball Championship

Joy, tears as Jaguars rebound to beat Griffins
Maria Claudia Bernal
International School
The Co-operative junior varsity girls volleyball team lost the first set yesterday to the undefeated International girls, then stormed back to take the next two and win the junior varsity girls championship Thursday at International's gym.
At the end some International girls were in tears after losing both their perfect season and the championship. For the little Jaguars it was a heady victory. Coach Misty Skidmore attributed the win to the ability of her charges to "stay focused. Even when we were behind or tied, they still worked at getting three hits each time," and sending the ball back hard and to undefended spots.
Griffin coach Eli Vilar paid tribute to the hard work and discipline that Co-operative employed to improve so much during the season. "They were a lesser team than us at the beginning of the season. We beat them easily twice. But they made themselves better than us." Her team, she said, suffered from overconfidence.
For all that, International played well throughout, and appeared formidable indeed in the first set, which was really tight. You could see each point being slowly ground out, with both teams being cheered on by a large crowd of fans. After the score was tied at 16-16 International got some strong serving to close out the set 25-21.
It looked as if the Jaguar girls would be sent on their way with praise for a nice effort that wasn't quite enough. The team apparently decided, however, that it would write a different ending. They seemed to gather strength.
There was a tremendous rally with the score tied at 12-12, in which the ball passed over the net more than 20 times, with many dramatic saves. Co-operative won the rally, and that seemed to be a turning point. The Jaguars then built a lead -- one point, two points, three points. The confidence of the Griffins seemed to crack.
The Jaguars extended their lead to four points at 21-17, then 23-19, and finally 25-19 when International hit a return long.
It marked the first time the International girls had lost a set all season.
However, they appeared to rally at the start of the tie-breaker and got out to a 5-2 lead. But the Jaguars fought back to tie, and at 6-6 Jaguar Ana Paula Peredo took the ball at the service line, and powered her team to a 10-6 lead that they never gave up, finally winning 15-11.
The line-up for the champion Jaguars: Sofia Sotelo, Brooke Hill, Audrey Saucedo, Luciana Adriazola, Ana Paula Peredo, Hailey White, Maria Velasco, Maria Jose Viacava, Estefania Sauto, Nicole Arias, Nicole Broesma, Carla Limpias.
For the second-place Griffins: Diana Melgar, Flavia Nostas, Beatriz Nallar, Maria Gutierrez, Lila Dueri, Laura Adriazola, Belen Rey, Diana Salman, Natalie Dajbura.
(PHOTO ABOVE) Take that! Griffin Beatriz Nallar (7) tries to slap in a point, while Jaguar Carla Limpias (16) goes up to block. And so it went.
Jonatan Muñoz, Interntional

Editorial

La falta de hinchas
¿Acaso a nadie le importa?

¿Dónde están los espectadores?
Esa es la pregunta que atormenta a este observador a medida que la temporada normal de fútbol y voleibol llega a su final y empiezan las finales. De cierta manera, hasta ahora los partidos han tenido de todo – juegos jugados con destreza y espíritu, la emoción de la victoria, la agonía de la derrota.
Parece una pena que casi nadie ha estado allí para verlo.
Hace poco el Fotógrafo del Colegio Internacional, Jonatan Muñoz, me informó que tenía unas fotografías geniales de los muchachos en partidos de fútbol colegiales y de las chicas en partidos de voleibol colegiales entre Internacional y Cambridge los cuales, añadió, “fueron los mejores partidos que vi este año.” Por cierto, quizás hayan sido los eventos deportivos más emocionantes jugados en Santa Cruz este año.
Y las fotografías de la acción continua fueron geniales. (Hay varios colocados en este blog y uno salió en El Deber el lunes.) Pero si uno observaba el fondo, podía ver que virtualmente no había nadie de ninguna de los dos colegios, Internacional o Cambridge, observando el partido. No había estudiantes, ni plantel docente y, lo más llamativo de todo, ningún padre.
La situación no es demasiado diferente en el Colegio Americano, sino es un poco más vergonzoso. El Colegio Americano tiene porristas, pero a menudo hay más porristas en el campo que gente en las graderías a quienes dirigir.
De los cuatro colegios en la conferencia, sólo Christian Learning es capaz de atraer un público decente, posiblemente debido a que muchos de sus padres son norteamericanos quienes fueron educados para comprender cuán importante son los deportes y la participación de los hinchas para un colegio.
Este editorial, que no representa una política de la liga, se escribe con la esperanza de que más personas comprenderán el significado de los deportes si les comentamos acerca del tema.
Los partidos mismos y sus resultados son sólo una parte del todo. Y el efecto que pueden tener los deportes en fortalecer el espíritu de un colegio es apenas un aspecto de su valor. Más importante es la manera en que se fortalece el sentido de “comunidad” de un colegio al reunirse para eventos deportivos.
Los profesores y los estudiantes se encuentran en un ambiente más abierto, fuera del régimen a menudo formal del aula. Los padres y maestros llegan a conocerse en una manera mucho más eficaz a través de la experiencia compartida en los deportes de lo que logran en las conferencias periódicas de 15 minutos.
Los deportes también pueden ser un incentivo importante para los estudiantes en el aula, hasta el alcance que algunos estudiantes podrían sentirse motivados para mantener buenas notas para seguir siendo académicamente elegibles para jugar. En un punto este año, toda una mitad del equipo de fútbol del colegio no era elegible para jugar debido a sus malas notas. Se escuchó a la madre del capitán del equipo preguntarse en voz alta si esos estudiantes se daban cuenta que “no sólo se están lastimando a sí mismos, están lastimando al equipo.”
Sin embargo, dado que la comunidad colegial no parecía valorar mucho al equipo, los estudiantes que rendían menos de lo esperado no parecían preocuparse por lastimar a sus compañeros de equipo y deshonrar a su colegio.
Por cierto, se puede hacer demasiado hincapié en los deportes, aunque no hay ningún indicio de que la SCISL está ni siquiera cerca de ese punto. Al no perder de vista la dimensión de los deportes, ayuda a fortalecer el carácter, impartir un sentido de espíritu deportivo e inculcar la propensión por jugar en equipo. Estos son un adorno valioso en la solicitud que el alumno presenta a la universidad. Pero no sirven si no hay nadie en las graderías para apreciar los esfuerzos y las destrezas que demuestran.
-- David Boldt, SCISL Weblog

The lack of fans
Doesn’t anybody care?

Where are the spectators?
That’s the question that gnaws at this observer as the regular season of soccer and volleyball games comes to an end and the playoff tournaments begin. In certain ways the games so far have had everything – skilled and spirited play, the thrill of victory, the agony of defeat.
It seems a shame that almost no one has been there to see it.
International School Photographer Jonatan Muñoz recently reported to me that he had some terrific pictures of the boys varsity soccer game and girls varsity volleyball game between International and Cambridge, which were, he added, “the best games I´ve seen this year.” Indeed, they may have been the most exciting sports events played in Santa Cruz this year.
And the pictures of the non-stop action were great. (Several are on display on this weblog, and one appeared in El Deber Monday.) But if one looked in the background one could see that there was virtually no one from either school, International or Cambridge, on hand to watch. No students, no faculty, and, most conspicuously, no parents.
The situation is not much different at Co-operative School, but a little more embarrassing. Co-operative has a cheer leading squad, but often there are more cheerleaders on the field than people in the stands for them to lead.
Of the four schools in the conference, only Christian Learning is capable of turning out a decent crowd, possibly because many of its parents are North Americans who have been brought up to understand how important sports and fan participation can be for a school.
This editorial, which does not represent league policy, is written in hopes that more people will understand the significance of sports if they are told about it.
The games themselves, and their outcomes, are only part of the picture. And the effect sports can have in building school spirit is just one aspect of their value. More important is the way in which coming together for sports events builds a school’s sense of “community.”
Teachers and students encounter one another in a more open environment outside of the often formal regimen of the classroom. Parents and teachers get to know one another through the shared experience of sports much more effectively than they do in periodic 15-minute conferences.
Sports can also be an important incentive for students in the classroom to the extent that some students may be motivated to keep their grades up to remain academically eligible to play. At one point this year fully half of one school’s soccer team was ineligible to play because of bad grades, The mother of the team captain was heard to wonder aloud whether those students realized “they are not only hurting themselves, they are hurting the team.”
However, since the school community didn’t seem to value the team much, the underperforming students didn’t seem concerned that they were hurting their teammates and dishonoring their school.
Sports, to be sure, can be overemphasized, though there’s no indication that SCISL is anywhere near that point. Kept in perspective, sports help build character, impart a sense of sportsmanship, and inculcate a propensity for team play. They are a valuable adornment to a student’s college application. But they don’t do their job if there’s no one in the stands to appreciate the effort and skills put on display.
The playoffs are starting. They promise to be a great show. Come and see it. You won’t be sorry.
-- David Boldt, SCISL weblog

JV Championships Preview

JV tourneys feature potent match-ups
By David Boldt
SCISL Weblog
The junior varsity championship games coming up Thursday (October 18) for volleyball and Friday (October 19) for soccer offer some exciting match-ups with lots of opportunities for vengeance.
The JV volleyball championships will be held at International, and the JV soccer championship at Co-operative. (See schedule at right.)
The junior varsity championship pits the team that finished first in the league against the team that finished second. There is no full-scale playoff in which all four teams participate as in the varsity playoff tournaments. This is the first year that the league has had a full-season junior varsity program that included all four schools.
Volleyball: Can perfection be preserved?
In both boys and girls volleyball championship games International’s teams will be seeking to retain their undefeated status against determined foes.
The International girls would seem to have the easier assignment. They face Co-operative, a team they have beaten twice this year in straight sets.
However, the scores have gotten closer as the year has gone on, and the Jaguars are coming off a very convincing win against third-place Christian Learning.
The first time the two finalists played in early September, International prevailed easily, 25-14 and 25-13. Things got a little closer in the first set of the match the teams played in early October, with International winning 25-16. And the second set was a real slugfest, with Co-operative succumbing only after a major struggle, 25-22.
The Jaguars will be hoping that the trend continues.
Both times that the International and the Christian Learning junior varsity boys have met the result has been a knock-down, drag-out fight going three sets. International won both times, but it was never easy.
In the most recent meeting, which was back on September 10 at Christian Learning, the Eagles took the first set 26-24. They suffered some serving lapses in the second, and lost 25-16. The deciding match was fought out point by point. The teams tied at 13-all and 14-all. International won 16-14 after a disputed delay of game call took a point and the serve away from the Eagles, the sort of thing that can cause a team to seek revenge.
Soccer: A rematch and a real test
Co-operative and International have played two close, hard-fought games, with the Jaguars winning both -- 2-1 on September 6 and 2-0 earlier this month. However, the Griffins have a more potent offense than these scores would indicate, and will hope to put it on display in the championship game.
Co-operative has the league’s top scorer, Santiago Paz, who has 8 goals. However, the next two players on the list are Griffins: Santiago Rosado and Harold Garay, with five goals each.
Both teams have scored over 20 goals during the six-game season, and both turned in convincing wins in their final games of the season. International defeated Cambridge 3-0 while Co-operative dispatched Christian Learning 5-0.
The Co-operative junior varsity girls own two victories over their opponent, Cambridge, but the results pose something of a puzzle. The two games were played within a week of each other way back in mid-September and present something of a contrast. (One was a game postponed from the opening week of the season.)
Co-operative won the first game 3-0, which sounds convincing until one is informed that Cambridge was playing with only eight players.
When the two met a week later with Cambridge at more or less at full strength, the game was decided by a single second-half goal, 1-0.
In the championship game Cambridge will presumably be seeking to show it can give Co-operative a real test – and win this time.

Season Anti-climax

Eagles. Knights try again
Forfeits, rain and a soggy victory
The Cambridge boys volleyball teams forfeited to Christian Learning, the girls varsity contest was postponed because of rain, and the junior varsity played a rain-shortened game that Cambridge won 2-0.
And so it went at Christian Learning Tuesday afternoon as the two schools tried again to play a set of games that had been postponed twice before, once because of a power outage and once because of a conflict with a swim meet.
Enough rain came out of the sky to stage another swim meet on the Christian Learning field, forcing a third postponement of the varsity girls soccer game. The two teams will try yet again Thursday afternoon at the same time as the junior varsity volleyball championships at International.
Before the rain Cambridge had arrived without its volleyball teams. Coaches reported that the school could not line up six players for the junior varsity game, and under league rules if a school cannot field a junior varsity team, then the varsity cannot play either.
The varsity and junior varsity forfeits represent the fourth and fifth time Cambridge teams have forfeited this year, a league record. No other teams have forfeited.
In terms of the league races the forfeits' only effect is to cement the hold of Christian Learning's
varsity boys on first place. Christian Learning, International and Co-operative all have identical 4-2 records, meaning that sets won, sets lost, and scoring are used as tie breakers.
The forfeit, which is recorded as a straight sets, 25-0, 25-0 win, served to further validate the Eagles possession of the number spot in the draw for the playoffs. In the semi-finals they will face Cambridge, which has not been a factor this year. Both Cambridge boys teams finish the season with 0-6 records.
The junior varsity girls played about half of a half before the downpour forced everyone -- players, officials, spectators -- to run for cover. The junior Knights had forged a 2-0 lead at that point on goals by Vitania Pulis and Natalia Johnson. Christian Learning could only have replaced Cambridge in Friday's junior varsity championship game by winning with a two-goal margin.
The pattern of the game was somewhat unusual considering the outcome. The Eaglettes had actually kept the ball in the Cambridge end of the field for much of the game, though without giving the Cambridge goalie a real scare.
But periodically the Knights would break loose on raids into the Eagles' end. Pulis and Johnson each scored on one of those forays.
The teams tried once to resume play, but three bolts of lightning in rapid succession forced a final retreat.
This story was written from reports by coaches and by SungChan Jang of Christian Learning.

Varsity Boys Soccer

Pardon me. Coming through . . . Eagle heads the ball between two Jaguars
Giannini Gutierrez, Co-operative School

Christian Learning 4, Co-operative 1
Eagles fly high, finish in first place
From coaches reports
The Christian Learning boys varsity soccer team went through Co-operative like a hot knife through butter Thursday in a game played on the Jaguars home field.
The Eagles came away with a 4-1 win in a game that was even less competitive than the score would indicate. "It was our worst performance of the year," Jaguar coach Orlando Taja said after the game. "We were pathetic. It was as if the team failed to show up for the game."
What made the situation worse was that Co-operative was up against a team that was at the top of its form. Eagle forward Josh Mojica formally announced that the Eagles had come to play by bonging a shot off the crossbar midway through the first half.
Mojica was back in front of the Jaguar goal just before the half ended, and this time he did not miss. Eagle fullback Danny Canaviri cleared the ball out of the Eagles zone, and the ball came to Mojica a couple of kicks later. The big striker wanged the ball into the goal.
Christian Learning came out for the second half on fire. Richard Telchi notched a goal in the opening minutes to make it 2-0.
A very short while later the Jaguar goalie tried to clear the ball by slinging it sidearm up the east sideline. But then things went seriously wrong. Mojica stepped in front of the intended recipient and intercepted the ball, flipped it slightly into the air, and launched a shot from 40 meters out that took off like an anti-tank rocket and seemed to be still rising as it hit the back of the net. The goalie had not gotten back to his position, which was probably fortunate. Serious injury might have ensued.
At this point the Christian Learning adherents, who seriously outnumbered the Co-operative supporters, began urging their team to relax, take it easy, and let the clock run a little. "You're three goals ahead," one fan yelled. "Tranquilo."
But apparently the "Take It Easy" page had been removed from the Eagles playbook for this game. A short while later Esteban Eguez took a carom off a penalty kick and knocked it into the net with his shoulder, making it 4-0 for the Eagles.
At this point the Eagles finally seemed willing to let up a little, and Juan Alfredo Abuawad was able to score the Jaguars' lone goal. At the end there was one thought that might have offered the whipped Jaguars some small consolation: It could have been worse.
As it is, Christian Learning took sole possession of first place, and Co-operative fell to third. While the Jaguars and Griffins have the same won-lost record (3-3), International has scored three more goals on the season. (Prior to Thursday's games International and Co-operative had the same number of goals scored.)
As a consequence, the semi-final playoff game between International and Co-operative will be played on International's field. (See schedule at right.) Co-operative has beaten International twice this year and therefore must be favored. The Griffins, however, will no doubt be hoping that the third time will be the charm.
PHOTO: Mid-air collision . . . Eagle and Jaguar fight for the ball
Giannina Gutierrez, Co-operative School


AMAZING GOAL: Juan Javier Estenssoro's long free kick arrives
Jonatan Muñoz, International School

Cambridge had led, 3-2
Griffins edge Knights 4-3, take second
By Andre Candia
International school
The International and Cambridge boys varsity soccer teams closed out their regular seasons with one of the most exciting games of the year, in which the lead see-sawed back and forth until the Griffins finally won 4-3 on their home field Thursday.
Both teams played with both skill and courage. The Griffins got great performances from Juan Javier Estenssoro, Jesus Rodriguez, Nicolas Bedoya, Jan Ivo Sochtig, Andres Estenssoro, Jon Paz and Daniel Baldivieso.
Cambridge found new offensive threats in diminutive winger Nicolas Gamboa, who got one of their goals, and Martin Pacor, who got the other two. Jorge Yuan on defense, and midfielder Manfred Grote also played brilliantly.
Cambridge did not have its principal goal scorer, Junior Sanchez, and International was without one of its stars, Eduardo Bedoya.
Both teams played each other real tough right from the start. Baldivieso finally broke through and scored for International. The Griffins extended the lead to 2-0 – the largest lead either team would enjoy -- a short time later when Juan Javier Estennsoro scored a humongous free kick launched from the Knights end of the field.
Cambridge shortened the lead to 2-1 just before the half ended. Nicolas Gamboa brought the ball downfield to the edge of the penalty area, where he launched a nifty cross to Nicolas Cirigliano, the wing on the opposite side, who fed the ball back to Pacor in the center for a short-range shot. Pacor eyed the goalie briefly, and then coolly snapped the ball into the left side of the net.
That goal gave Cambridge hope for the second half, and they dominated when play resumed. Gamboa got a goal to tie the score, and minutes later Pacor whacked the ball into the goal for his second score of the day, giving Cambridge the lead 3-2.
It seemed that Cambridge would take the match until Jesus Rodriguez scored with a great shot to tie the game at 3-3.
Now the prospect of a penalty shot shoot-out loomed large, but the Griffins averted that anticlimactic possibility. Sochtig made a great run through the Knights defense, and passed the ball to Andres Estenssoro who made the goal by executing a half-scissor shot.
The victory gave International second place in the league. The Griffins won-lost record was the same as Co-operative’s -- 3-3 – but thanks to its goal output in the final game the Griffins had three more goals for the season than Co-operative. By finishing second International won home field advantage --not to mention an added measure of confidence -- when it plays Co-operative in the first round of the playoffs. (See schedule at right).
Cambridge could have qualified as “comeback team of the year” if it had won – and could still do so in the playoffs. The Knights lost their first three games, and then won two of three in the season’s second half. Cambridge will face first-place Christian Learning, who the Knights defeated in their most recent meeting, in the first round of the playoffs on the Eagles’ field.

PHOTO: Going up . . . Knight Manfred Grote and Griffin goalie go for the ball
Jonatan Muñoz, International School

Varsity Girls Volleyball

Griffin Adriana Ocampo (18) blasts a return against Cambridge

Jonatan Muñoz, International School

Griffins barely avoid upset by Knights
By Ana L. Saavedra Banzer
Cambridge College
The Cambridge girls varsity volleyball team has had its ups and downs this year, but Thursday afternoon in the International gym the team that won the championship last year showed that the Knights can still slug it out with the Griffins when they want to.
The Griffins won, preserving their unbeaten season and first-place finish, which was not in doubt, but they had a long afternoon. After the two teams each took a set, the Lady Knights took an 11-6 lead in the third set, before finally succumbing 15-13.
Cambridge's record for the season is only 2-4, and they finished in third place behind International and Christian Learning, which was 3-3 for the season. However, Cambridge is the only team to take a set against International during the year, a feat they accomplished twice.
In the first round of the playoffs, International will play fourth-place Co-operative at home in one bracket, while Cambridge plays Christian Learning at Christian Learning in the other. (See schedule at right.) Cambridge and International could conceivably meet again in the championship.
Cambridge took the first set. In it, the lead -- like the ball in the long rallies -- went back and forth and back and forth, with Cambridge finally winning 25-22.
The Lady Knights continued their disrespectful ways in the second set, and were ahead 12 to 9 when Griffin 11th grader Melissa Roca stepped to the service line and proceeded to reel off 16 straight points, catapulting International to a 25-12 win.
Fast, accurate serves are the hallmark of all the International teams, and this reflects the coaching style of International volleyball coach Elizabeth Vilar. Roca in particular sends serves over the net that are like rifle shots -- fast and accurate.
But the interesting thing is that while some of Roca's serves were "virtual aces" that weren't returned, Cambridge could often get the ball back. Indeed, senior Nan Jordan and 9th grader Mariana Escaño could both send the ball back across the net for the Knights at the same velocity with which it had arrived. However, the mere fact that Roca was serving seemed to have a stabilizing effect on her teammates. Long rallies often ensued, but International prevailed.
In the third set, faced with the possibility of actually losing for the first time this year, the Griffins showed their strength. They seemed to work harder than Cambridge at the very end when the outcome was uncertain. In short, they saw what they had to do -- and they did it.
But the outcome next time -- if there is a next time -- could be different

.

Jaguar setter lurks beneath Eagles, who are forming a target for their server.
Giannina Gutierrez, Co-operative
Eagles squeeze out win against Jaguars
From coaches' reports
The Christian Learning and Co-operative girls varsity volleyball teams pummeled each other mercilessly like a couple of heavyweights in the closing phase of a 15-round match, with the Eagles finally winning by about as close a set of scores as possible.
The Eagles took the first set 25-23, after the score had been tied at 15-15, 20-20, and 23-23. The second set was, if anything, even closer, with Christian Learning winning 26-24.
The two teams were slamming the ball at each other all match long, but the style of play was not as elegant as ithas been in other games. There were a surprising number of service errors and mis-hits on both sides for a game at the end of the season, when teams are supposed to be in playoff form. Both teams have had better days, and presumably will again.
The win secured second place for Christian Learning, which will play Cambridge at home in the first round of the playoffs. International finishes in fourth place, and will face undefeated Internationat at International in its opening playoff game.

JV Boys soccer

Co-operative preserves pefect season with 5-0 win
By Trevor Reed
Christian Learning
The Cooperative junior varsity boys soccer team completed its undefeated season by beating Christian Learning 5-0 on its home field Thursday.
Santiago Paz scored three times for the Jaguars, moving him to the top spot among junior varsity goal scorers. Juan Carloa Laguna scored Co-operative's two other goals.
Early in the game a Jaguar scored off of a rebound from another player, and the Jaguars would score three more times in the first half. The Eagles had a few good attempts, but Cooperative had a very good defense.
In the second half, Christian Learning started playing more like a team and their defense improved significantly. The Eagles had a near miss on a direct kick that barely went over the post, and held the Jaguar offense until the very end of the game, when the Jaguars scored their fifth goal on a long shot just minutes before the end whistle was blown.
Details to come


International blanks Cambridge, gets playoff berth
The International junior varsity boys soccer team got a chance to build up its confidence by winning a hard-fought game against Cambridge 4-0 Thursday on its home field.
International will now play Co-operative in the junior varsity championship game next Friday at Co-operative.
The match with Cambridge started with both teams really giving everything they had, and being tough. International broke on top when a free-kick taken by Valere Leo when into the left side of the goal.
The match got really interesting after a free-kick for Cambridge hit the crossbar.
The second goal for the Griffins was scored by Sergio Rosado on great individual play that ended as a one-on-one duel with the goalie that Rosado won. That made the score 2-0 at halftime.
The second half began in really harsh fashion, with Sergio Rosado being shown a yellow card.
With about ten minutes remaining, Harold Garay scored the third goal for the International school.
Garay scored again on the last play of the match, making the final score 4-0.
-- Andre Candia, International School

JV Girls Volleyball

International finishes perfect season with easy win
From coaches reports
The International junior varsity girls volleyball team easily defeated Cambridge in straight sets Thursday in their home gym. The Griffins won the first set 25-10, and the second set 25-9.
International finished the season witha 6-0 record, and will entertain Co-operative in the junior varsity championship game next Thursday. Cambridge finishes 0-6.

Co-operative disposes of Christian Learning, 2-0
From coaches' reports
A well drilled Co-operative junior varsity girls volleyball team needed less than half an hour to defeat Christian Learning in their home gym Thursday. Co-operative won the first set 25-11, and the second set 25-14. Co-operative wil play International in the junior varsity champinship next Thursday at International. Christian Learning finished in third place.

Varsity Girls Soccer

Ready . . . aim . . . Ana Karina Marin launches a shot at Cambridge goalie
Jonatan Muñoz, International School

Griffins outpace Knights, win 2-0
From coaches' reports
It was a great day for soccer, though probably somewhat pleasanter for the International girls varsity, which was able to enjoy a 2-0 victory over Cambridge on its home field Tuesday.
The victory confirmed International's third place finish in the league, and put Cambridge firmly in fourth. International thereby gets the marginally easier task of facing second-place Christian Learning in the playoffs. Cambridge will face first-place Co-operative. Cambridge has one more regular season game against Christian Learning, but that game cannot now materially alter the standings.
The first half was scoreless. International broke the deadlock well into the second half when 10th grader Ana Karina Marin knocked in a goal. They got the insurance score from senior Laura Chavez who kicked a rising shot into the left-hand side of the goal.
Both teams had other chances to score, but were unable to capitalize on them.
The score was the same as that in the game between Co-operative and Christian Learning the day before, but was played with less intensity. The players on both sides seemed to be relaxed and playing for fun.
Earlier this year the two teams had played a 2-2 tie.

Varsity Boys Volleyball

Cambridge player goes up to block Christopher Saltzieder's return
Jonatan Muñoz, International School

International wins 25-16, 25-17
Griffins defeat Cambridge, share first
By Ana L. Saavedra Banzer
Cambridge College
The International boys varsity volleyball team did what it had to do to climb back into a tie for first place, defeating Cambridge in straight sets in a match played at the Griffins gym Tuesday.
The win pulls the Griffins back into a first place tie with Co-operative. Both teams have 4-2 records. Christian Learning can also end up with a 4-2 record by beating Cambridge when those teams meet next Tuesday at Christian Learning. (The date for the postponed Cambridge-Christian learning games is now definite.)
The ties will be broken on the basis of season long statistics, starting with sets won. If the tie remains after applying that criterion, the next tie-breaker is sets lost. If that doesn't do it, the ranking will depend on points scored. The official season statistics were not available Tuesday.
International got out to an 8-4 lead in the first set against a Cambridge team that did not look excited. After a time out the Knights started to wake up, but could not catch the Griffins.
The Griffins eventually won the first set 25-16.
Cambridge played better in the second set, and the score was actually tied the score at 17-17. But at that point International seemed to realize it was in risk of losing a set, which could doom their hopes of a first-place finish. The Griffins didn't allow Cambridge to score another point, and won the set 25-17.
The Knights demonstrated frequently that they knew how to play the game, but did not seem to be taking it seriously.
When there were one-on-one confrontations at the net, Griffins Alex Roempler, Christopher Saltzieder, and Pablo Muñoz could generally beat Cambridge's big men. Nonetheless, Knight players Manfred Grote, Juan Manuel Salas, and Christopher Cocianni did make some good plays for the losers.

Ultimately the biggest difference between the teams was the quality of their team play. International played the whole game as a team. Cambridge did not.

JV Boys Volleyball

International easily defeats Cambridge
By Maria Claudia Bernal
International School
The International junior varsity boys volleyball team completed its undefeated season with an easy, straight sets victory over winless Cambridge at the Griffins gym Tuesday.
The Griffins started off playing really well, with many points being made by Francisco Gonzalez. Juan Sebastian Narvaez' serves were also outstanding as the Griffins cruised to a 25-7 win.
The second set was marginally closer, but International won it too, 25-17.

Varsity Girls Soccer

Co-operative 2, Christian Learning 0
Jaguars beat Eagles, sew up first
Sung Chan Jang
Christian Learning Center
On a cool, sunny afternoon, the Cooperative varsity girls soccer team scored two goals in the second half to defeat Christian Learning and secure clear title to first place.
If Christian Learning had won, and beaten Cambridge when it played that team in a make-up game next week, the Eagles would have taken first place.
Clearly more comfortable on their home field than they had been playing at Christian Learning, the Jaguars seemed to be playing at their best, passing and kicking with enthusiasm. At several points during the game the Jaguars made perfect passes that almost lead to goals.
However, it could have been a scoreless game except for two miscues by the Eagles goalie.
The first was a close matter on several counts. The Eagle goalie made a risky decision in the middle of the second half to go out and try to beat Co-operative star Tania Landivar to the ball. However, Landivar got there first and was able to send a slow, bouncing pass dribbling across the mouth of the now unprotected goal.
At this point a new race was on, between Jaguar wing Fernanda Vaca Diez and Eagle sweeper Jennifer Lau, two of the fastest players on the field, coming in full tilt on a collision course from opposite sides of the field.
Vaca Diez won this race by a split second, and in quick succession knocked the ball -- and Lau -- into the goal.
While overall the Jaguars had more near misses on scoring opportunities than the Eagles, Christian Learning forward Roxy Jien did get a golden chance to tie the game at 1-1. She maneuvered past several defenders and was one-on-one with Jaguar goalie Nataly Noquer, who rushed out to meet her.
This time the tactic worked, and Noquer was able to snuff the shot, hold the ball, and preserve her shutout.
The Jaguars then got an insurance goal on another bad break for the Eagles. Jaguar Darinka Matkovic unleashed a wicked shot from about 30 meters out. The goalie fielded the ball but bobbled it so that it went through her legs and into the goal.
The Eagles had made an adjustment at the beginning of the game that changed the dynamics of the confrontation between the two teams. To stop the Jaguars fleet forwards, who had made several breakaway runs on the goal in the first game between the Eagles and Jaguars, the Eagles moved Lau, usually a midfielder and a frequent goal-maker, to sweeper.
The tactic worked in the first half. There were no clear breakaways, and the Eagle defense was able to play farther forward, which resulted in several offsides penalties being whistled against the Jaguars. Moreover, on at least one occasion Lau was able to race over and adroitly strip the ball from a Jaguar forward headed for the goal. However, with Lau playing back on defense, the Eagle offense, which had seemed at times to be the most potent in the league this year, seemed to lack the quickness it needed to punch through and score against the faster Jaguars