The middle school varsity girls’ volleyball team competed in the South Korea Association of International Schools (SKAIS) tournament at the Jetnasium on Feb. 20. After an undefeated run, the Jets secured back-to-back championships, defending their previous title at last year’s SKAC (South Korean Activities Conference) tournament.
Unlike the KISAC tournament, where frequent substitutions disrupted the team rhythm, SKAIS featured a streamlined, seven-player squad, with the roster split into three teams. Student coach Victoria Kang managed the varsity team throughout the tournament, designing game strategies and making quick adjustments on the court.
The girls kicked off against the International School of Busan (ISB) Bears with Jisoo Yoon (17) as setter, Luisa Silva (26) and Minju Koo (99) as middle, Yul Sakong (29) and Elin Koo (7) as outside, and Tina Kim (52) as right-side.
Sakong’s fierce spikes broke through the bear’s defense and dismantled their formation. With set scores of 2:0, DIS locked in the first victory. “In the previous tournament, we had lots of substitutions for people to get lots of playing time, but for SKAIS, we barely did any substitutions. I think it was a good winning strategy,” said Silva.
In their second match, the Jets took on the Busan Foreign School (BFS) Sharks. The girls won the first set (25:20), with middle blocker Koo (99) making key plays at the net. The Jets clinched the match point as the Sharks misjudged a free ball, securing a 25-17 victory.
Throughout the game, the Jets maintained their momentum with strong communication and consistent plays. “We focused on staying consistent throughout the game. I think our girls went on the court with the eagerness to win and we actually took the lead in the game,” Sakong said.
In their final round-robin match, the girls faced a combined Atherton International School (AIS) and Gyeongnam International Foreign School (GIFS) team due to a shortage of players. The Jets dominated the first set, with Yoon (17) delivering ten consecutive serve aces (25:12)
However, the game took a turn when captain Sakong faced an ankle injury mid-match. With their captain sidelined, the team crumbled down. “Yul got her ankle sprained in the middle of the first set. We couldn’t have her in the following set, and it really messed up our rotation,” Silva said. Amidst the sudden change, they rallied together to win the second set (25:20).
The Jets squared off against the ISB Bears. They took control of the first set through powerful serves from Koo and Sakong, who had returned after her injury. In addition to the ace serves, Kim (52) played a key role in the match, keeping track of the opponent’s tips to solidify the teams’ defense (25:17).
Still, the second set ramped up with intensity, and a combination of serve misses and reception errors allowed the Bears to pull ahead. In the final set, the girls bounced back and claimed a 15:11 victory. “We didn’t let the second set throw us off. One of the girls kept receiving my spikes, but we stayed focused and tried to keep the energy up,” said Sakong.
After the final match, the team celebrated their back-to-back trophy with excitement. The championship title marked a fitting end to an incredible season filled with obstacles and tough matches. With the trophy in hand, student-athletes prepare to carry on their energy for the upcoming basketball season.
