(Results and summaries at end of story)

For the third year in a row, Taegu American of South Korea had to settle for third place. The best Yokota of Japan could do was fifth place.

Still, both teams had the distinction of finishing highest among Department of Defense Dependents Schools-Pacific teams in their respective Far East High School Girls Volleyball Tournaments.

By beating Seoul American in five sets on Friday in the Class AA Tournament on Okinawa, Yokota earned the right to play for fifth place on Saturday against the American School In Japan. It was a happy ending for a Panthers team that finished 15th last year.

Taegu lost a heartbreaking five-set match to defending champion Faith Academy of the Philippines in the Class A Tournament at Sasebo Naval Base, Japan. Notre Dame of Guam then dethroned the Vanguards in a five-set final.

“I feel like we raised the bar for DODDS schools next year because we placed so high” in a tournament long dominated by Tokyo international and Guam public and private schools, Yokota senior outside hitter Jonica Childress said.

Defending champ Academy of Our Lady was to face George Washington in an all-Guam final Saturday. Academy aimed to extend its Pacific record to nine Class AA titles; the Geckos were going for their first title since 1984.

Yokota rebounded strongly from the 2003 tournament in which it finished next to the bottom, said Childress, one of five players back from last year’s squad.

“Our team had better chemistry,” she said after the Panthers’ 20-25, 25-16, 11-25, 25-21, 15-12 win over Seoul American.

“We always bring it back together, we talk to each other, work together and keep it cool.”

Things didn’t look good for Yokota in the third set. The 2003 team might have collapsed, the players said; this year’s group bonded and turned the match around.

“If we didn’t get down on ourselves, we knew we could do our best,” senior middle blocker Shawna Vitarbo said.

The Panthers rebounded, but the Falcons’ vaunted offense disappeared.

“The last real strength we have, offensive punch, just went out the door,” Seoul American coach Denny Hilgar said. “Our offense was lacking, the passes were bad, the sets crumbled down. Offense got us this far. It just wasn’t there.”

No matter what Yokota did on Saturday, the Panthers feel they redeemed themselves this season.

“Everybody will be in the best mood because we came down here and gave it all we had,” Childress said.

Taegu American coach David Hagander expressed frustration after his team came up short of its expected goal.

“Last year, there were clearly two teams (Morrison Christian Academy and Faith Academy) above everybody else,” Hagander said. “This year, we had a chance. It could have gone either way.”

Eventual champion Notre Dame knocked the Warriors into the losers bracket 24-26, 25-23, 25-20, 25-21, then the Vanguards finished them off 26-28, 25-18, 25-20, 22-25, 15-6.

“Our serves haunted us a little bit,” Hagander said. “They (Faith and Notre Dame) outplayed us at the right times. Notre Dame kept getting it back over the net. Faith played good, smart ball. They took advantage of open spots, kept us off balance.”

Still, Hagander felt proud of what the team accomplished this season, including a third-place Korean-American Interscholastic Activities Conference season finish and a KAIAC tournament runner-up trophy.

“The talent was there from the first practice,” he said. “They should all be proud. More so than I’ve seen in other sports, they grew as a team and as human beings, they matured a lot, good quality character came through.”

Results and summaries

Class AA Girls Volleyball

At Kadena Air Base, Okinawa

Single-elimination playoffs

Wednesday’s matches

Match 1-Southern, Guam, def. Nile C. Kinnick, Japan, 25-19, 25-9, 25-18

Match 2-Yokota, Japan, def. Kubasaki, Okinawa, 25-13, 25-17, 25-19

Match 3-George Washington, Guam, def. John F. Kennedy, Guam, 25-18, 25-23, 21-25, 25-16

Match 4-Seoul American def. Guam High 25-21, 25-19, 25-11

Match 5-American School In Japan, Tokyo, def. Robert D. Edgren, Japan, 25-19, 25-13, 25-9

Match 6-Seisen International, Tokyo, def. Simon Sanchez, Guam, 25-13, 25-19, 25-16

Match 7-Christian Academy In Japan, Tokyo, def. Kadena, Okinawa, 25-8, 25-9, 25-13

Match 8-Academy of Our Lady, Guam, def. Zama American, Japan, 25-12, 25-9, 25-17

Match 9-Edgren def. JFK 25-16, 21-25, 25-16, 25-15

Match 10-Guam High def. Simon Sanchez 16-25, 25-19, 25-17, 26-24

Match 11-Kinnick def. Kadena 25-14, 19-25, 25-20, 25-16

Match 12-Kubasaki def. Zama American 25-20, 25-20, 25-19

Thursday’s matches

Match 13-George Washington def. American School In Japan 25-23, 25-16, 21-25, 25-18

Match 14-Academy of Our Lady def. Yokota 25-23, 25-12, 25-20

Match 15-Seisen International def. Seoul American 25-13, 25-18, 25-22

Match 16-Christian Academy In Japan def. Southern 25-17, 20-25, 26-24, 25-17

Match 17-Yokota def. Nile C. Kinnick 25-20, 25-17, 25-18

Match 18-Seoul American def. Robert D. Edgren, 25-19, 25-23, 25-14

Match 19-Southern def. Kubasaki, 25-23, 25-18, 22-25, 25-20

Match 20-American School In Japan def. Guam High 25-16, 25-15, 29-27

Match 21-John F. Kennedy def. Kadena, 25-19, 25-19, 26-24

Match 22-Simon Sanchez def. Zama American 25-12, 24-26, 25-11, 25-20

Match 23-Nile C. Kinnick def. Robert D. Edgren 19-25, 16-25, 25-21, 25-14, 15-4

Match 24-Kubasaki def. Guam High 23-25, 25-19, 25-21, 25-14

Friday’s matches

Match 25-Yokota def. Seoul American 20-25, 25-16, 11-25, 25-21, 15-12

Match 26-American School In Japan def. Southern 25-21, 19-25, 25-22, 25-16

Match 27-Robert D. Edgren (11th place) def. Guam High (12th place) 22-25, 25-23, 25-19, 13-25, 15-11

Match 28-Kadena (15th place) def. Zama American (16th place) 25-23, 17-25, 19-25, 25-11, 15-11

Match 29-John F. Kennedy (13th place) def. Simon Sanchez (14th place) 24-26, 25-20, 25-19, 14-25, 15-10

Match 30-Kubasaki (9th place) def. Nile C. Kinnick (10th place) 18-25, 25-21, 25-19, 20-25, 16-14

Match 31-Academy of Our Lady def. Seisen International 25-20, 25-20, 25-21

Match 32-George Washington def. Christian Academy In Japan 21-25, 25-21, 21-25, 25-21, 15-13

Saturday’s matches

Match 33-Seoul American vs. Southern (7th and 8th place)

Match 34-Yokota vs. American School In Japan (5th and 6th place)

Match 35-Seisen International vs. Christian Academy In Japan (3rd and 4th place)

Match 36-Academy of Our Lady vs. George Washington (championship and 2nd place)

Friday’s summaries

Semifinals

Academy of Our Lady def. Seisen International 25-20, 25-20, 25-21

Spike kills-Academy, Emma Gillan 7, Cassandra McFadden 5; Seisen, Teresa Molina 6.

George Washington def. Christian Academy In Japan 21-25, 25-21, 21-25, 25-21, 15-13

Spike kills-GW, Nacrina San Nicolas 10, Bernadette Bell 7; CAJ, Kelsey Hardeman 7, Kelsey Masuda 6.

Consolation

Yokota def. Seoul American 20-25, 25-16, 11-25, 25-21, 15-12

Spike kills-Yokota, Andrevia Thomas 9; Seoul, Sheriah Taua 7. Defensive digs-Yokota, Andrevia Thomas 6.

American School In Japan def. Southern 25-21, 19-25, 25-22, 25-16

Spike kills-ASIJ, Catherine Thornton 6; Southern, Wella Comoda 7. Service aces-ASIJ, Catherine Thornton 5.

Kubasaki def. Nile C. Kinnick 18-25, 25-21, 25-19, 20-25, 16-14

Spike kills-Kubasaki, Erin Foote 19, Rachel Roberts 12, Naomi Gordon 5; Kinnick, Katie Wilkinson 6. Block points-Kinnick, Katie Wilkinson 5.

Robert D. Edgren def. Guam High 22-25, 25-23, 25-19, 13-25, 15-11

Spike kills-Guam High, Sarah Bushong 6, Shella Mesa 5. Block points-Guam High, Sarah Bushong 7.

John F. Kennedy def. Simon Sanchez 24-26, 25-20, 25-19, 14-25, 15-10

Spike kills-Sanchez, Cherisse Aquino 5.

Kadena def. Zama American 25-23, 17-25, 19-25, 25-11, 15-11

Spike kills-Kadena, Erica Kerr 7, Yumi Eykelbosch 5; Zama, Mikah Grauel 5. Defensive digs-Zama, Keily Sasano 5.

Class A Girls Volleyball

At Sasebo Naval Base, Japan

Double-elimination playoffs

Wednesday’s matches

Match 1-E.J. King, Japan, def. Matthew C. Perry, Japan, 26-24, 25-19, 25-13

Match 2-Notre Dame, Guam, def. Faith Academy, Philippines, 25-15, 25-21, 25-14

Match 3-Morrison Christian Academy, Taiwan, def. Pusan American, South Korea, 25-19, 25-6, 25-19

Match 4-Taegu American, South Korea, def. Fukuoka International, Japan, 25-21, 25-19, 25-13

Thursday’s matches

Match 5-Osan American, South Korea, def. E.J. King 28-26, 25-18, 25-18

Match 6-Fukuoka International def. Matthew C. Perry 25-13, 25-14, 25-19; Matthew C. Perry eliminated

Match 7-Pusan American def. E.J. King 19-25, 25-15, 25-17, 25-16; E.J. King eliminated

Match 8-Faith Academy def. Fukuoka International 25-16, 25-18, 25-13; Fukuoka International eliminated

Match 9-Notre Dame def. Osan American 25-15, 25-22, 25-0

Match 10-Taegu American def. Morrison Christian Academy 25-17, 17-25, 25-17, 26-28, 15-11

Match 11-Osan American def. Pusan American 25-11, 25-17, 25-16; Pusan American eliminated

Match 12-Faith Academy def. Morrison Christian Academy 25-23, 25-10, 24-26, 25-15; Morrison Christian Academy eliminated

Friday’s matches

Match 13-Notre Dame def. Taegu American 24-26, 25-23, 25-20, 25-21

Match 14-Faith Academy def. Osan American 25-23, 25-18, 25-21; Osan American eliminated

Match 15-Faith Academy def. Taegu American 26-28, 25-18, 25-20, 22-25, 15-6; Taegu American eliminated

Match 16-Notre Dame def. Faith Academy 25-23, 20-25, 25-27, 25-23, 15-1

Friday’s summaries

Notre Dame def. Taegu American 24-26, 25-23, 25-20, 25-21

Spike kills-Notre Dame, Nicole Tainatongo 10 in 61 attempts, Dellene Lizama 9 in 26 attempts, Jaylynn Mendiola 6 in 60 attempts; Taegu, Lynette Grant 15 in 43 attempts, Kelli Cox 13 in 38 attempts, Tina Wojtonik 7 in 17 attempts. Service aces-Taegu, Lindsey Jackson 11. Block points-Notre Dame, Dellene Lizama 5. Assists-Notre Dame, Cera Taguacta 29; Taegu, Lindsey Jackson 23. Defensive digs-Notre Dame, Nicole Tainatongo 10, Stephanie Taguacta 8, Cera Taguacta 5.

Faith Academy def. Osan American 25-23, 25-18, 25-21

Spike kills-Faith, Ashley Kuhlow 9 in 23 attempts, Bethany Bauck 9 in 14 attempts; Osan, Margaret Nurse 7 in 25 attempts. Block points-Osan, Margaret Nurse 6; Faith, Beka Ruiz 5. Assists-Osan, Kara Baccus 11; Faith, Sarah Adams 11. Digs-Osan, Sarah Rodriguez 9, Jannel Acoba 7, Kara Baccus 6, Maria Popelka 5; Faith, Bethany Bauck 7, Beka Ruiz 7, Sarah Adams 6.

Faith Academy def. Taegu American 26-28, 25-18, 25-20, 22-25, 15-6

Spike kills-Faith, Bethany Bauck 8 in 20 attempts, Beka Ruiz 7 in 16 attempts, Ashley Kuhlow 7 in 37 attempts, Kelly Youngman 5 in 11 attempts; Taegu, Lynette Grant 14 in 52 attempts, Kelli Cox 9 in 45 attempts, Ashley Gooch 7 in 30 attempts. Service aces-Faith, Ashley Kuhlow 5. Assists-Faith, Sarah Adams 25; Taegu, Lindsey Jackson 26. Digs-Faith, Kelly Youngman 11, Sarah Adams 9, Bethany Bauck 9, Sung Shil Kim 8, Ashley Kuhlow 8; Taegu, Michelle Weal 6, Alex Vynorius 5.

Notre Dame def. Faith Academy 25-23, 20-25, 25-27, 25-23, 15-1

Spike kills-Faith, Kelly Youngman 14 in 22 attempts, Ashley Kuhlow 8 in 35 attempts. Assists-Faith, Sarah Adams 15. Digs-Notre Dame, Nicole Tainatongo 15, Jaylynn Mendiola 8, Stephanie Taguacta 6; Faith, Ashley Kuhlow 18, Bethany Bauck 12, Kelly Youngman 7.

Awards

MVP-Nicole Tainatongo, Notre Dame.

All-Tournament team-Nicole Tainatongo, Stephanie Taguacta, Dellene Lizama, Notre Dame; Mycal Horton, Pusan American; Heather Craker, Brandy Dickman, Morrison Christian Academy; Sarah Adams, Faith Academy; Lindsey Jackson, Taegu American; Kalin Lawrence, Fukuoka International; Margaret Nurse, Kara Baccus, Osan American; Cassie Tumbado, E.J. King.

Honorable mention-Cera Taguacta, Notre Dame; Ashley Kuhlow, Faith Academy; Erica Garrido, Morrison Christian Academy; Aimee Parker, Osan American; Mindy John, Pusan American; Ashley Gooch, Taegu American; Dayna Garland, Matthew C. Perry; Emi Saza, Fukuoka International; Carmie Cucueco, E.J. King.

Migrated