SIS gets another v’ball title

Saipan International School’s success in indoor volleyball this season continued, as the Geckos ruled the boys varsity division of the 2013-2014 Coalition of Private Schools Sports Association Volleyball League.

SIS bagged its third volleyball championship in the high school division this year after beating perennial rival Grace Christian Academy in last Friday’s finals, 25-16, 25-21, at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium. Last month, the Geckos also defeated the Eagles in the boys varsity finals of the Marianas Interscholastic Sports Organization Volleyball League, while SIS triumphed, too in the girls varsity division of the COPSSA competition after downing Mt. Carmel School.

The starters from the SIS team that took the MISO crown suited up for SIS Blue in the COPSSA league, which implemented a separate tournament for girls and boys high school divisions this year. SIS Blue, which was composed of Clay McCullough-Stearns, Andrew Johnson, Tomy Choi, Chris and Allen Cepeda, William Fong, Alex Xie, and Min Suk Kim, went on to finish the double-round robin regular season with a 4-2 record and was pitted against sister team SIS White in the semifinals.

SIS Blue won in the all-Geckos semis, while GCA, which topped the regular season with its 5-1 record, eliminated Mt. Carmel School (1-5) last Thursday to arrange a rematch among the finalists in the MISO league.

The Geckos, who eked out a 27-25, 25-22 victory over the Eagles in the MISO tournament, asserted their might against GCA in the COPSSA finals behind the strong spikes and serves Johnson and McCullough-Stearns and the hustle plays and good setups of the other members of the team.

Johnson scored three straight aces off booming serves midway in the first set, while McCullough-Stearns let go of two spikes and blocked GCA twice to lift SIS to a 17-7 lead. GCA sued for time and went on to make a little headway, 15-21, winning the exchange at the net with Billy Hinson holding his ground against McCullough-Stearns and company.

However, SIS would not be denied, as McCullough-Stearns, Johnson, and Tommy Choi scored on spikes and the Geckos went on to wrap up the opening set after GCA’s Josiah Trinidad attempted a toss, but the ball slipped away from his hands.

In the second set, SIS raced to a 9-1 lead, as McCullough-Stearns and Johnson were still at it and continued to get support from their teammates. However, GCA went on a 9-2 scoring run behind Hinson’s strong game at the net and scrappy play from his teammates to stay in the game. The match was close from that point, but the Geckos played much steadier in the end to deny GCA’s bid of extending the game.

SIS moved one point away from clinching the crown when GCA failed to return a Choi serve after three touches, 24-20. McCullough-Stearns tried to end the match, but his spike hit the net, giving the point to GCA. Trinidad then served for the Eagles and Fong received it, hitting the ball back and turning it to Choi, who set up Johnson for a spike from the deep left attack line. Johnson went for a powerful spike, which Trinidad could not handle, as he had yet to establish position at the backline after the service.

The strong spikes and serves coupled with a steady defense keyed SIS’ title win in the COPSSA league, according to coach Mili Saiki, who touted the Geckos’ success despite splitting the players into two teams.

“SIS divided its teams into two to bring more game opportunities to its players. But the strength was also divided, yet we were able to reach the finals. With a powerful offense on and off the net, we accumulated points. Our defense was also strong and did complicate GCA, making precise passes for them difficult. Also, our services were strong. Some of our players have been practicing jump serves. They were powerful,” said Saiki, who co-coached the Geckos with J.R. Gechig and John Nekaifes.

When asked to comment about the domination of SIS in indoor volleyball league this season, Saiki reiterated the championship trophies were not presented in a silver platter.

“These trophies aren’t coming easy. These students have dedicated many days practicing hard and keeping their grades high also. This is their prize for all their time and dedication. We, coaches are very proud of their success. When SIS started its volleyball program we hardly got six or seven players in our team, and most of them never played before. But with patience, time, support, and dedication we got here. The support of our parents is something we would like to mention. Some of our parents have never missed a game, they are always there cheering for SIS,” Saiki added.