THE Eagles of Grace Christian Academy continue to soar high in the PSS Girls High School Volleyball League, notching their fifth consecutive title after defeating Marianas High School 24-22, 21-10 Friday at the MHS gym.
The Eagles made their way into the finals unscathed, but the MHS Dolphins were a worthy contender.
The Dolphins were led by Fatima Monterubio whose devastating spikes along with the support of Kalista Klaver and Raenna Ramarui, kept MHS in control throughout most of the first set as they led 17-11.
However, what the Dolphins lacked was composure. After committing errors, the Dolphins’ morale sank, allowing GCA to, slowly but surely, catch up.
GCA’s Katriel Saures played the role of the setter spectacularly as she constantly handed Hye Jin Elliot the spike finishes.
With the game tied 20-20, MHS tried to stay alive by finding an answer to GCA’s offensive. But the Dolphins could only delay the inevitable as the Eagles clinched victory in the first set, 24-22.
In the second set, the Dolphins were leading 7-4 when GCA’s Saures took over and unleashed overhand spikes that were too much to handle for the Dolphins.
Saures connected six consecutive spikes to hand GCA the lead 10-7.
MHS fought hard to stay in the game but after reaching 10 points, the Dolphins were completely shut down.
For their part, the rest of the GCA players were given the opportunity to shine.
Eunice Pagaduan stepped up with successive serves alongside Karina Dilse while Elliot and Saures added the finishing blows to secure the second set victory 21-10 and the Eagles’ fifth title.
“I’m proud of my girls,” GCA Coach Cesar Libut told Variety. “The pressure to keep winning could be tiring but the girls told me that they are not tired of winning.”
After GCA nearly lost the first set of the championship match, Libut told the girls that all they needed to do was remember who they are and to relax.
“I want to commend the entire team. Although Saures and Elliot carried the team with their sets and spikes, without any receivers, they would not have had the chance to do that,” Libut said.
This year, he added, they played in their toughest tournament yet. “And MHS was the toughest challenge we’ve faced so far. They have the best spikers in the game,” Libut said.
The Grace Christian Academy Eagles pose for a photo after earning their fifth consecutive championship Friday in the PSS Girls High School Volleyball League at the MHS gym.
