Last October, the Xavier High School Volleyball team went up against Colegio de San Agustin (CSA) during the semi-finals of the Inter-Scholastic Sports Association (ISSA) Volleyball League. The Xavier Stallions, equipped with a power-packed arsenal of spikers, cruised their way to victory and into the finals.

      The Xavier Volleyball Team, however, had a rocky start, incurring errors in both service and digs, allowing the CSA team to close in and take a crucial four-point lead early on the match (24-21). Fortunately, the Stallions were able to hold on for four more rallies and score two more points to win the first set, 26-24.

      Spiking their way through, the Xavier Stallions were able to gain an 8-point cushion in the next two sets, providing a comfortable lead for the team and an opportunity for the second-stringers to play as well. With a change in the primary line-up, Xavier was still able to maintain its strong offense and formidable aerial defense in order to secure the match in three straight sets.

      CSA, however, gave an excellent match, averaging a good number of defensive digs and well-executed attacks per set, making them a worthy team to enter the semi-finals.

      Xavier won, 3 sets to null.

Vanguards Retain Championship

      The much awaited finals of the ISSA Volleyball league was held at Faith Academy International School in Antipolo last October 2006. The gymnasium was jam-packed with spectators, including the CSA team and other spectators who were all eager to watch the concluding match of the season.

      The Faith Vanguards and the Xavier Stallions were equally matched in both offense and floor defense, with the former only marginally winning on aerial blocking. The first set was close, neither team gained a huge lead over the other and Xavier stuck to its original game plan and offensive tactics. However, Faith’s tough blocking gave the Stallions an immensely difficult time to score some points. This blocking eventually proved to be the winning formula for the Vanguards who took the first set, 25-23.

      Xavier regrouped its line-up for the second set as the team switched outside hitters, setters and rotation to break the Vanguard’s momentum. However, Faith struck back with a much more complicated series of attacks, rendering Xavier’s blocking ineffective. Executing high level plays and delivering extraordinary blocking, the Vanguards inched their way to victory, grabbing the following set, 25-20.

      However, Faith started weak on the third set giving Xavier an opportunity to gain a huge seven point lead early on. Xavier reworked its offense and Faith was unable to defend well, letting Xavier sweep the third set, 25-13.

      Despite losing the third set, the Faith Vanguards bounced back on the fourth set, delivering powerful spikes from all angles and distrupting Xavier’s defense. The final set was very much one-sided and the Vanguards retained their title as ISSA volleyball champions while the Xavier Stallions settled for second place. (The scores: 25-23, 25-20, 13-25, 25-13.)

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