Geckos unbeaten in volleyball

Saipan International Schools’ Andrew Johnson, left, tries to tip the ball against a Grace Christian Academy player during their game in the MISO volleyball league last Thursday at the Marianas High School Gymnasium. (Jon Perez)

The Geckos are 11-0 after sweeping all of their four games last Thursday and Friday at the Marianas High School Gymnasium, highlighting their perfect run with a thrilling 25-22, 15-25, 15-8 win over the Grace Christian Academy Eagles’ varsity side.

It was an intense match as both the Geckos and the Eagles had to work hard for every point. SIS, however, managed to gain some distance, turning a slim 18-16 lead to a 23-16 edge to move two points away from wrapping up the first set.

Despite facing a deficit, GCA won’t go down without a fight, scoring six straight points to threaten at 23-22. However, errors foiled the Eagles’ comeback bid. GCA also rallied in the second set and this time was successful to force a deciding third set before the Geckos hung tough, spoiling the Eagles’ bid to complete a come-from-behind win in the rubber match.

In other results, SIS also scored a 25-19, 25-19 win against the Mt. Carmel School Knights varsity and a 25-11, 25-17 triumph over the junior varsity side of the MHS Dolphins. The Geckos capped their four-game sweep after Saipan Southern High School’s varsity squad failed to come up with enough players.

The Geckos are ahead by two wins over GCA, which is in second place in the standings with a 9-3 slate. MHS varsity (8-4) is in third place, followed by SIS junior varsity (7-5), Marianas Baptist Academy (6-6), Mt. Carmel (6-7), Kagman High School (5-7), SSHS varsity (4-9), SSHS junior varsity (3-9), and MHS’ junior varsity (1-10).

GCA avenged its loss to SIS’ varsity when it rallied to complete a 22-25, 25-18, 15-10 come-from-behind victory over the Geckos’ junior varsity team. The Eagles also scored three other wins last week against MCS (25-15, 25-16), MBA (25-16, 25-15) and Kagman (25-18, 25-16).

In Friday’s results, it was a double victory for MHS as the Dolphins’ varsity defeated KHS varsity, 25-19, 25-23 and the former’s junior varsity squad downed MBA. The Dolphins’ junior varsity won the first set via forfeiture, while MBA showed up in the second set and prevailed, 26-24, to force a third frame. MHS earned the victory with a 15-10 decision in the third.

While the MHS JV-MBA game went the distance, Mt. Carmel finished off SSHS junior varsity early, registering a 25-16, 26-24 victory. Southern’s varsity, on the other hand, rallied to beat MHS varsity, 21-25, 29-27, 15-11, while the Manta Rays’ junior varsity side won by forfeit against MHS varsity. SIS tripped MHS, 25-13, 25-14, in an all-junior varsity contest. (Jon Perez)