Cougars off to good start

The Academy of Our Lady of Guam Cougars improved their season record to 2-0 after defeating the Southern High Dolphins 25-19, 25-13 last night in the Independent Interscholastic Athletic Association of Guam Girls' Volleyball League. With the loss, the Dolphins dropped to 0-2.

After a see-saw battle in the beginning of the first set, the Cougars were able to build a five-point lead at 19-14. However, the Dolphins fought back with four straight points to cut the margin to one. Maylynn Nauta led the rally with two kills.

The more experienced Cougar squad maintained composure and stopped the Dolphins' momentum with five unanswered points behind three kills from Elyse Bais to put them at game point. The Dolphins scored one more point, before Bais ended the set with a shot down the line. 

 "Southern played really well and I think we just held our ground and we all did our jobs," Bais said. "Starting the season off with two straight wins should boost our confidence as we progress," she added.

In the second set, Academy came out making a statement by opening up a 5-1 lead. Nauta tried to extinguish the Cougar rally with a kill from the backline, but Academy answered back with two more points to go up 7-2.

Later in the set, Bais and teammate Alyssa Mafnas put together three straight kills that gave the Cougars a comfortable 22-9 lead. Southern's Jalene Perez and Nauta produced a pair of kills before Academy was handed the victory on three Dolphin errors.

The Cougars resume action Friday against the defending champions George Washington Geckos. Southern will play the Notre Dame Royals.