Teams jockey for finals positions

Competing teams in the 2008 Spring Break Youth Volleyball Festival are now jockeying for positions as the tournament enters its final day today at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

The Okies, Kings, Ayuyus, and Brotherhood are in the top four of the boys’ 18-and-under division, while Powerpufs, Kagman High School, Bonafide, and the visiting Tinian High School duplicated the feat in the girls side.

The Umangs and Spicy Tuna are in position of getting the two finals berth in the boys 14-and-under, while undefeated Hilitai will face UR Mom in the girls division.

The Umangs might also earn another finals spot in the 12-and-under boys as they currently lead the standings with Team Tokka in close second. The girls class will be a battle between Fotten Bwii Bwiis and Mini Marshmellows.

The standings are based on the number of sets won and lost. All games are played in the first-to-score 25 points in a three-set format.

The Kontenders were held to a draw by Brotherhood in the boys 18-and-under division, 25-21, 17-25, but they bounced back with a 29-27, 26-24 win over Hopwood Junior High School.

The Geckos outlasted Galuphs, 26-24, 25-21, in the boys’ 14-and-under division, while Powerpuffs scored a 25-20, 29-27 win over Saipan Southern High School in the girls Under-18. The Okies and Kagman High School scored consecutive wins over Pwang, 25-10, 25-21, and 25-20, 25-7.

UR Mom dominated Mini Marshmellows all through out, 25-9, 25-2, while Tokka bested Whispering Palms School, 25-23, 25-11. Geckos drew with Umangs, 25-20, 18-25, and Tokka won by forfeit against Umangs.

The Okies defeated Brotherhood, 26-24, 25-17, in another boys’ Under-18 match, while Umang remained on top of the Under-14 class with a 25-21, 25-19 beating of HJHS.

The Galuphs downed H To The Obos in the Under-12 boys division, 25-21, 25-18, Umang tripped Gaga, 25-12, 25-16, in another match. Bonafide was held to a 25-20, 24-26 draw by KHS.

The top four in the boys and girls divisions will advance to the finals with the top seed facing the fourth ranked squad and No. 2 meeting No. 3. The winners will then advance to the finals.

The boys’ and girls’ Under-12 and -14 divisions will have the top two teams battling for the title. All finals matches will be played today and the awards banquet will be held after all games.

The Northern Mariana Islands Volleyball Association is organizing the tournament in cooperation with the Division of Youth Services and Division of Sports and Recreation.