Varsity Boys Volleyball

BOIIINNNGGG!!! -- The Jaguars can whack the ball when they need to, as Jaguar captain Juan Alfredo Abuawad demonstrates here. Carlos Paredes, Cooperative


Undefeated Jags beat 2d-Place Eagles 2-0

The Cooperative varsity boys volleyball team, playing with matchless precision and consummate finesse, easily defeated Christian Learning Tuesday in their home gym Tuesday to finish the season with a spotless 6-0 record.
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GOING FOR THE BLOCK --Mateus de Carvalho leaps to stop an Eagle shot. Carlos Paredes, Cooperative

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The 2009 Jaguars will no doubt long be remembered for the mastery they showed against their competition this year, losing only one set all season. That set had been to the Eagles, but Tuesday's game was a much more one-sided affair.
The Jaguars took the first set 25-17, leading all the way. They were even more dominant in the second set, winning 25-11.
The Eagles had managed to keep the second set interesting in the early going, and were actually within one point of the Jaguars at 8-7. But after that Cooperative seemed to go into turbodrive.
Are they really that good? "They were today," said Eagles coach Tim Gale after the game. "We made some little mistakes. They didn't make any."
Precision was indeed the hallmark of the Jaguars play. They kept the ball in play with some saves that amazed the crowd, but, amazingly, failed to surprise the players, who seemed to expect them.
Jaguar Coach Jesus Flores said after the game that ball control is what he has tried to teach the players. When returning, the players are told to go for the open spot, to keep the ball going deep, and only try to put the ball away when everything is perfectly aligned.
And the Jaguars did as they were told.





HIGH FIVES -- Knight, Griffin both prepare to hammer ball falling right in between them.Juan Carlos Coronel, Cambridge

Knights score a big win over Griffins, 2-0

The Cambridge varsity boys volleyball team won its first regular season game since at least 2006 with a straight sets victory over International at the International gym Tuesday.
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FLYING GRIFFIN -- Griffin goes high to try to hammer the ball past Knights double-block.
Juan Carlos Coronel, Cambridge

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Cambridge played almost flawless defense, while the Griffins were plagued with unforced errors and seemed unable to make key set-ups to their best hitters.
Cambridge took the first set handily, 25-13. Things tightened up in the second set, but the Knights continued to hold the advantage, and prevailed 25-21.

JV Boys Volleyball

Jaguar JV gain tough win over Eagles

The Cooperative junior varsity boys volleyball team finished its season undefeated, but to do so it had to take a hard-fought three-set match against Christian Learning Tuesday in their home gym.
The Little Jaguars took the first set 25-22, but to do it they had to come from behind.
The Little Eagles led in the set at one point 20-14, and seemed to be well on the way to winning it. However, Cooperative rallied to even the score at 22-all, and then take the final three points. On the last one a spectacular kick save enabled the Jaguars to keep the ball in play.
The second set was similarly hard-fought, but the Jaguars worked their way to a two point advantage at 16-14, held onto that edge until 19-17, then took the final six points to win the set 25-17.
But the momentum then switched sides, returning to the Jaguars in the deciding third set. Cooperative took the lead early, moved out to a 12-6 advantage, then nailed down the final three points to take the set 15-6 and win the match.

GIVING WAY -- One Cambridge player gets out of the way to let a teammate make the return. Juan Carlos Coronel, Cambridge

Knight JV upends Griffins in straight sets

The Cambridge junior varsity boys volleyball team defeated the Griffins 2-1 in their meeting Tuesday in the Griffins gym.
Cambridge's win created a tie for third place in the League that will be decided on point differential to figure out the pairings for the playoffs. Both teams have 1-5 records.
The Griffins took the first set of the match 25-21, but the Knights came back to take the second set by the exact same score, 25-21. The Griffins then were afflicted by an acute attack of the yips, making a series of nervous errors while the Knights kept their cool and took the third set easily, 15-4.

Varsity Boys Soccer

FIGHTING ON THE EDGE -- Eagle Richard Ling (7) battles Knight Raul Prudencio (5) on border of penalty box. Gabriel Alonso (14) looks on. Ruth Nyquist, Christian Learning

Eagles take wing, beat Knights 4-2

By Keith Wilcke
Christian Learning
The Christian Learning varsity boys soccer team outplayed Cambridge, winning 4-2 in a game played at Cooperative Thursday.
The score was tied 1-1 at the half, but the Eagles flew out of reach in the second half. Only the individual artistry of Junior Sanchez kept the Knights near the high flying Eagles.
The feathered raptors Eagles scored first early in the first half when Luis Doi tapped in a corner kick. (He had hit the crossbar just a few moments earlier.)
Sanchez immediately answered for the Knights and the score was knotted at half time.
In the second half, the Eagles took control of the ball and the scoreboard. Two quick tallies by Eagle standout Josh Mojica, one on a free kick and one from the field, gave them a 3-1 lead.
Richard Ling then added some insurance with a header into the net off a nice feed from deep in the right corner by Danny Canaviri, leaving the Eagles in front 4-1.
Sanchez worked some magic late in the game, characteristically dribbling through several defenders and finessing his second goal into the cage behind Mark Salinas to round out the scoring.
Cambridge fans called for their star to complete a hat trick, and he nearly did, but Eagle sweeper Andres Larsen decided it wasn’t to be on this day and stopped the shot.
Mojica and Larsen received yellow cards. There were no other penalty cards issued.


NEAR MISS -- Jaguar defender heads out of danger a Griffin shot that appeared headed for the upper right corner of the goal.
Jonatan Muñoz, International

Jaguars edge Griffins in cliffhanger, 2-1

The Cooperative boys varsity soccer team kept its undefeated status intact, but it wasn't easy against a Griffin team playing on its home field that challenged them relentlessly before succumbing 2-1.
The win assures the Jaguars of a first-place finish in the regular season, and gives them a chance to finish undefeated if they can beat Christian Learning in next week's season finale, achievements the Cooperative boys haven't accomplished in years.
Cooperative will then play either Cambridge or International in the first round of the post-season tournament, depending on which of the latter two schools wins their clash next week.
The Jaguars scored first Thursday as Jose Manuel Vasquez hammered in the first of his two goals.
The Griffins evened the score at 1-1 shortly thereafter when Andres Estenssoro cleverly redirected a free kick onto the goal with his head. That score held until the half, though both teams threatened on numerous occasions.
Vasquez struck again in the second half to provide the winning margin, though the lead looked anything but safe as the Griffins had several near misses. The Jaguars also had chances to widen their lead that came to naught.

JV Boys Soccer

THE RACE IS ON -- A mixed posse of Eagles and Knights takes off after the ball.
Julia Boldt, Cooperative

Knight JV hands Eagles a 4-0 loss

The Cambridge junior varsity boys soccer team hammered out a decisive 4-0 win over Christian Learning in a game played at Cooperative Thursday.

Knight Anthony Salvatierra did all the necessary damage with a pair of first half goals. Kevin Mendez and Juan Carlos Paniagua rounded out the scoring for the Knights with goals in the second half.

UNMATCHED PAIR -- Jaguar Richard Salvatierra and Griffin Joaquin Wray take convergent paths to the ball. Jonatan Muñoz, International

Little Griffins 2-0 winners over Jags

The International junior varsity boys soccer team scored once in each half while holding the Junior Jaguars scoreless to notch a 2-0 victory.

Joaquin Wray scored the first goal for the Griffins, and Javier Barron accounted for the second.

Varsity Girls Volleyball

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.

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.

JV Girls Volleyball

THRILL OF VICTORY -- Little Jaguars exult after come-from-behind win.
Jonatan Muñoz, International

Jaguars win thriller over Griffins

The Cooperative junior varsity girls volleyball team spotted International a one-set advantage, then stormed back to win in three sets in a match played at Internbational Thursday.
The Little Griffins had appeared to be headed for a big upset, in comparatively easy fashion, as they took the opening set 25-11.
However, the Little Jaguars made clear that it was not going to be that easy as they came back to win the second set 25-20.
The climactic third set was heart-stoppingly exciting and played in front of an unusually large crowd of fans from both schools, who screamed encouragement at their teams.
International led narrowly most of the game and opened a 14-10 advantage, seemingly placing victory within grasp. The Junior Jaguars steadied at that point, however, and took the next six points to win the set 16-14 and take the match.

Girls Varsity Soccer

BYE BYE BALL -- Griffin goalie Matilde Gamarra reaches in vain to stop Aldana Roda's shot. Jonatan Muñoz, International

Jaguars subdue Griffins 3-0, stay unblemished

The Cooperative girls varsity soccer team notched its fifth win of the season and kepts its unscored-upon record intact with a 3-0 win, but was seriously challenged by International on the Griffins field Thursday.
Aldana Roda got the first Jaguar goal midway through the first half when she launched a booming kick from outside the penalty area that arced just beyond the reach of Griffin goalie Matilde Gamarra and just below the crossbar.
Shortly before the intermission Tania Landivar tapped in a rebound to make the score 2-0 at the break.
In the second half Landivar scored again when she finished off with a smartly kicked ball a sequence of rapid, forward-moving passes that pulled Gamarra out of position.
The Jaguars had numerous other opportunities to score, but the Griffins had their chances too. At one point in the second half the Griffins took charge of the game and forced a sequence of corner kicks, but were unable to get the ball in the goal.
To complete their undefeated-unscored-up streaks the Jaguars now must only get past Christian Learning next Tuesday, but that team has suddenly shown an offensive spark that could make the contest interesting.

EYES ON THE PRIZE -- Eagle Abby Phillips and Knight Xiomara Vaca go for the ball.
Ruth Nyquist, Christian Learning

Eagle girls explode against Cambridge, 5-0

By Keith Wilcke
Christian Learning
Storm the Knights' castle! The Eagles have landed.

The Christian Ledarning girls varsity soccer team took control of the ball and soared to a 5-0 victory in a game played at Cooperative Tuesday afternoon.
Both teams manned the gates in the first half which ended 0-0.
The Lady Knights did their best to man the gates, but the Eagles breached the keep and took the fortress. Cambridge goalie Raquel Lopez did her best, but the Eagles kept hammering away at short range until they broke through in what would be their biggest offensive explosion of the year.
In the first half, Christian Learning ninth graders ruled as Abby Phillips broke through for her first goal of the season, and Jessica Smith added two more to her total, making the score 3-0 at the break.
Things went even more the Eagles' way in the second half, during which the Christian Learning goalie, senior Erica Kienzle, only had to handle the ball once. The defense in front of her kept the Lady Knights swimming in their own moat.
Meanwhile, the Eagle forwards did more damage, with Laura Lindahl and Jihea Ahn each adding a tally to make the final score 5-0.
The game was superlative for the SCCLC Eagles, but heart-breaking for the Cambridge Knights, who played with energy and grace throughout despite the lopsided result.

JV Girls Soccer

SHE GOT IT -- Griffin goalkeeper Katherin Ceballos prepares to catch shot by Samantha Bennet during shootout won by Cooperative 1-0. Jonatan Muñoz, International

Jaguar, Griffin JVs in scoreless tie

By Keith Wilcke
Christian Learning
The Cooperative and International junior varsity girls soccer teams battled to a 0-0 tie on a hot afternoon at International.
Both teams played the entire game one player short of the 11 normally allowed because of absences due to injuries or illness. Neither team had many real chances to punch in a goal and break the scoreless deadlock, though Griffinette standout Antonia Maggi lost several opportunities on offsides calls.
The Jaguarinas received the extra point awarded in the standings for winning the postgame penalty shot shootout that League rules call for in the case of ties. The won the shootout 1-0 on the strength of Megumi Kamiya’s lone tally.
The tie perhaps had the greatest effect on the team that wasn't there -- Christian Learning. The Little Eagles, who were idle Tuesday, now have a two-point lead in the standings, meaning they could win first place in the regular season by tying Cooperative in the final game next week. Cooperative would have to win outright to claim victory in the regular season.

Boys Varsity Volleyball

SHOW OF FORCE -- Jaguar Mateus de Carvalho rams home a shot for the penultimate point of the first set. Jonatan Muñoz, International

Jaguars masterful in 2-0 win over Griffins

By Maria Claudia Bernal

International School

The Cooperative boys varsity volleyball team defeated International in straight sets in the International gym Tuesday afternoon.
Not even the advice and encouragement of Pablo Muñoz, star of International's championship 2007 team who was back for a visit, could help the Griffins solve the relentless attack of the Jaguars.
The Jaguars are now 5-0, and have only been forced to a third set once this season. That was done by Christian Learning, which will get one more chance against the league-leaders when those two teams meet next week.
Cooperative did not overpower International in the way that Muñoz' team sometimes did. Instead the Jaguars prevailed in long rallies largely by refusing to make mistakes, and making artful saves to keep the ball in play.

The Jaguars were the bigger team, but often seemed to prefer to use their height advantage to slap the ball into undefended spots rather than to blast it into the floor -- though they did that too.
The Jaguars jumped on top early in the opening set 4-0, and enjoyed leads of 16-5 and 22-9, before the Griffins rallied at the end to cut the lead to a final count of 25-16.
The second set was a more even affair, and the teams were actually tied 13-13 before the Jaguars began to move ahead, gradually opening a lead until they led by four, 22-18. They then added the final three points in relatively rapid order to win the set 25-18 and take the match.

UP IN THE AIR -- Eagle Jesse Hallock tries to blast ball past Knights Jose Rivera (9) and Alvaro Lopez (2). Ruth Nyquist, Christian Learning

Eagles fly high against Knights, win 2-0

The Christian Learning boys varsity volleyball team kept alive its chance to tie for first place in the regular season with a straight sets win over Cambridge Tuesday afternoon in a match played in the Cooperative gym.
The Eagles are now 4-1 with their loss coming at the hands of undefeated Cooperative, now 5-0. The two teams clash in the season finale next Tuesday.
Christian Learning won both sets on Tuesday by the identical scores of 25-19.

JV Boys Volleyball

WRITING ON THE WALL -- Griffin defender goes up to block a Jaguar return, but scoreboard shows Jaguars' advantage. Jonatan Muñoz, International

Jaguars easily outpace Griffins, 2-0

The Cooperative junior varsity boys volleyball stretched its unbeaten streak to five games with a convincing straight sets victory over International in the International gym Tuesday.
The Little Jaguars took the first set 25-9, and the second 25-17.

HERE'S THE WIND-UP -- Eagle Haziel Martinez prepares to put some seriuous energy into his return. Ruth Nyquist, Christian Learning

Eagle JV tops Knights in straight sets

The Christian Learning boys junior varsity volleyball team had little trouble defeating Cambridge 2-0 in a match played Tuesday at Cooperative.
The Eagles won the first set 25-13, and then had only marginally more difficulty taking the second 25-19.

Boys Varsity Soccer

AND THERE HE GOES -- Griffin Jorge Harriague (19, at right) sends the ball goalward after getting past Eagle goalie Mark Salinas to tie the game.
Jonatan Muñoz, International

Griffins victors over Eagles, 2-1

The International boys varsity soccer team posted a key victory -- and avenged an earlier loss -- with a 2-1 win over Christian Learning Thursday afternoon on their home field.

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BLAST OF THE MOJICA --

Eagle Josh Mojica fires a free kick at the Griffin "wall." Ruth Nyquist, Christian Learning

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The Eagles, who had won the previous meeting between the two teams 4-3, scored first when Andres Larsen got control of the ball during a melee in front of the International goal and banged the ball into the net.
That concluded scoring in the first half of a game that was furiously contested by the two closely matched teams.
Jorge Harriague evened the score at 1-1 early in the second half when he outmaneuvered Eagle goalie Mark Salinas and threaded the ball into the net.
The winning goal was scored for International by Sergio ¨Peewee¨ Rosado with only a few minutes left when Rosado got a step on a defender in a race across the mouth of the goal and pumped the ball into the corner of the net.
Both teams continued to attack with vigor, and both goalies were forced to make outstanding saves, but the score remained 2-1.

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STRIDE FOR STRIDE -- Knight Gonzalo Prudencio and Jaguar Federico Sauto fight for control. Carlos Paredes, Cooperative

Jaguars outscore revived Knights, 5-3

The Cooperative boys varsity soccer team kept its undefeated record and first-place position intact by winning 5-3, but were seriously challenged by a much-improved Cambridge team that got three goals from star Junior Sanchez.
The game was certainly not another turkey shoot like the season opener between these two teams, in which the Jaguars shellacked the Knights 11-1.
Both teams fought hard through a first half that was scoreless until, with about 30 seconds remaining, Alfonso Roca stormed in from the right hand side of the goal and whipped a shot into the far corner past diving Cambridge goalie Jerry Killingsworth.
Roca had come zooming through on the same pattern several times during the half, but on the previous occasion had been intercepted by a Cambridge fullback. Not this time.
The scoring fireworks really began after the halftime intermission. Cooperative first added a goal to make the score 2-0 in favor of the Jaguars.
Sanchez then launched the Cambridge counterattack in earnest with two goals to tie the score. His second goal was a particularly artful effort in which he took the ball at midfield and dribbled his way past three or four defenders, then smacked the ball into the net.
Cooperative took back the lead 3-2, but things were tied up again shortly as Sanchez notched his third goal of the afternoon on a corner kick that caromed first off a Jaguar defender, then off Jaguar goalie Esteban Sauto, landing right in front of Sanchez, who pivoted and popped it into the net.
Cooperative recovered the lead minutes later with a goal that made the score 4-3, then added a coup de grace just seconds before the game ended to make the final count 5-3.
The four second half goals for Cooperative were scored by Roca, Wilson Salvatierra, Jean Bretel, and Federico Sauto, though not necessarily in that order.
No penalty cards were issued though the game was vigorously contested on the part of both teams.
The two teams will likely meet again in the opening game of the playoffs, where the outcome might be different. At the end of the game Sanchez more or less publicly chastized his teammates for their two losses to Cooperative. "We can beat these guys," he told them.

JV Boys Soccer

WE´LL SPLIT UP HERE; THEY CAN'T FOLLOW US BOTH -- Jaguars Alejandro Rosas (2) and Reinaldo Chavez (3) take alternate routes toward Cambridge goal..
Carlos Paredes, Cooperative

Jaguars, Knights battle to scoreless tie

The Cooperative and Cambridge junior varsity boys soccer teams each had lots of chances to score in a rock-'em-sock-'em match on the Jaguars field Thursday, but neither side could get the ball in the net.

The Jaguars picked up an extra point in the standings by winning the postgame penalty shot shootout 5-3.

Ther outcome represented a considerable improvement for Cambridge, which had lost to Cooperative 4-0 on opening day.

DIVING SAVE -- Eagle goalie Wesley Ordoñez kept the score close with outstanding saves.

Jonatan Muñoz, International

Little Griffins edge Eagles, 1-0

The International boys junior varsity boys soccer team scored a narrow 1-0 win over Christian Learning in a hard-fought contest on the Griffins' field Thursday.

The lone goal was scored in the opening half by Julio Ribeiro.

Varsity Girls Volleyball

THE RIGHT TOUCH -- Jaguar Ximena Guzman (4) taps a return. Jaguar Sofia Sotelo (10) and Knight Chemi Tanaka (9) look on. Diego Morales, Cooperative

Jaguars extend streak, beat Knights 2-0

The Cooperative girls varsity volleyball team remained unbeaten with a straight sets win over Cambridge in their home gym Thursday, but had to stifle a serious rally by the Lady Knights in the second set to do it.
The match unfolded along what is becoming a pattern in encounters between the two teams over the past two seasons. The Jaguars took the opening set with consummate ease, breezing to a 25-13 win in a game that was never close. The Knights seemed lackluster and sleepy, letting balls drop between players because of bad communication, missing easy bumps, and driving spikes into the net.
In the second set the Lady Knights appeared much refreshed. Playing with renewed spark they battled the Knights evenly to 16-16, then took the lead 20-17.
The Jaguars clawed their way back, however, to lead 21-20, largely on the strength of captain Veronica Richter's booming, high-arcing serves.
The Jaguars worked the score to 24-21, but Cambridge picked up two more points before the home team could nail down the final point to take the set and win the match.
Though the two teams fought quite evenly, their records are now quite different. Cooperative is now 4-0, while Cambridge drops to, 0-4. "We have a good team," said one of the Cambridge players, "but something always seems to go wrong."

RETURN TO SENDER -- Griffin Maria Paola Acosta (5) sends the ball back across the net. Jonatan Muñoz, International

Griffin counterattack defeats Eagles 2-0

The International girls varsity volleyball team scored a straight sets victory over Christian Learning Thursday in their home gym, but to do it they had to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat in the second set.
The Griffins were in control in the first set, finally winning 25-18. The second set was quite a different story as the Lady Eagles took charge, and led 24-17, making a third set seem almost a certainty.
However, the Griffins then put on a tremendous display of discipline and grit to take the next nine points in a row and win the game 26-24, to win the match.

JV Girls Volleyball

THIN BLUE LINE -- Griffin Fabiana Zelada makes good a return during long rally.
Jonatan Muñoz, International

Griffin JV wears down Eaglettes, 2-0

The International junior varsity girls volleyball team scored a straight sets win over Christian Learning in a well played match at the Griffins gym Thursday.

The Griffins were hard-pressed in the first set, which they finally won 25-23. Things went somewhat more smoothly for them in the second set, which they won 25-17