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Whispering Palms to challenge Saipan Community
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Posted on Oct 31 2006
The stage is set for tomorrow’s Private Schools Indoor Volleyball League Championships as the students from Whispering Palms School and Saipan Community School advanced to the final showdown with impressive wins at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.
The Oleai Sports Complex parking lot was packed yesterday as the four teams that survived Monday’s opening round of the playoffs returned to the rubberized surface for more six-on-six action on the Ada floor.
After sweeping the Seventh Day Adventists on Monday, the Eagles of Grace Christian Academy had the brooms turned on them by their counterparts from the Saipan Community School.
Coach Michelle Hammons’ crew turned up the intensity level on the north court with a 25-22 win in the opener and carried their momentum in to the second set for a 25-21 win to clinch victory.
Hammons was so happy with the win that she took to the air despite still recovering from a broken foot.
“I didn’t even think twice about my foot and I jumped! I get into these games. We were on. We really played well. Everything was working. We were focused and we outplayed them,” she said.
The coach said that it didn’t matter whether her team won or lost but was happy that they were able to pull out the win after working so hard to get to the playoffs.
There was more of the same action on the south court as the powerful Whispering Palms School spikers outlasted the Marianas Baptist Academy Stormz in a three-set thriller that kept fans on the edge of their bleacher seats.
After trading volleys, the Palms eked out a 25-23 win in the opener but the kids from Navy Hill were unable to seal the deal as the Stormz brought their A-game in the second with a 25-14 win to even the set count at one apiece.
With their season of success on the line, the kids from Whispering Palms roared to life with a rousing 15-9 win in the finale to punch their ticket to tomorrow’s championship. The final showdown takes place tomorrow at 3:45pm when the kids return to the Ada Gym.
