Colegio San Ignacio beat Carmen del Viboral Club 2-0, obtaining the Copa Columbus Boys volleyball championship title in the TCS Coliseum on March 7.

Colegio San Ignacio won both sets with key attacks that strike through Carmen de Viboral’s defense. TCS Boys Volleyball team ended up third winning 2-0 in the consolation match against Colegio Cumbres.

“San Ignacio has a strong track record, this team has honed their skills over countless hours of practice, solidifying their reputation as a force to be reckoned with.” Santiago Ortiz, Head Coach Carmen de Viboral, said. 

TCS volleyball team faced off against Carmen de Viboral in the semi-finals, ultimately losing 2-1. In the first set, TCS lost 25-17. However, they were able to bounce back in the second set and secure a win with a score of 24-16. Unfortunately, in the final set, TCS was unable to maintain its momentum and lost 15-9, resulting in a loss for the team.

“We all played incredibly hard and fought until the very end. Despite our efforts, we ultimately fell short of victory,” Gustavo Bohorquez, Grade 11, said. 

TCS had an even record in their last six games, winning three and losing three. Despite the losses, they won the matches needed to qualify for the semifinals and ultimately finish on the podium.

“Our team is lacking in experience, as our players began playing much later than those on other teams who started at a young age. This discrepancy in experience puts us at a disadvantage against our opponents,” Anibal Betancur, TCS Boys Volleyball coach, said.

San Ignacio’s won all six games played and are considered one of the teams with the most experience in the tournament playing together since they were in elementary school. In addition, the team’s setter, Juan Esteban Restrepo is also the captain of the Seleccion Colombia menores.

“Our team’s championship win is a result of the strong unity and familial bond we share, cultivated through years of playing together,” Restrepo said. 

The TCS duo Cristobal Villegas and David Fajardo proved to be a winning combination on the field. Villegas’ setting skills complemented Fajardo’s attacks, leading to the most points scored by the team.

“The attacks were fundamental for this game since we had many chances to score and with our deadly attack we made a lot of damaged on the field,” Felipe Tamayo, Grade 11, said. 

TCS prepared for the tournament by entering the juvenile category at the Color Volley tournament in Envigado, despite belonging to the minor category. In addition, they host regular games with five or four teams at the school coliseum.

“We made a collective decision to challenge ourselves by playing in the youth category, knowing that it would require more effort and determination from us to succeed,” Betancur said.