Torchbearers prevail over MHS in junior varsity battle

An Agape Christian School junior varsity player returns the ball as her teammates look on during their game against Marianas High School in the Public School System Girls High School Volleyball League 2022-2023 last Thursday at the MHS Gymnasium. (LEIGH GASES)

After missing the whole of last season, Agape Christian School stepped onto the court with the vengeance, as its junior varsity team struck down home team Marianas High School’s junior varsity in the second playdate of the Public School System Girls High School Volleyball League 2022-2023 last Thursday in the always hot and humid Marianas High School Gymnasium.

ACS overpowered a decidedly pro-Lady Dolphins crowd and defeated MHS JV in two sets, claiming superiority and drawing first blood in the first set, 21-10. They showed it wasn’t a fluke when they repulsed MHS JV’s best efforts to try and force a third set by beating them in a nail-biter second set, 23-21

Head coach for both Agape Christian School’s varsity and JV team, En Yang Pang, was glad that the Torchbearers were able to pull off the win.

“I feel like the second set against MHS was a little tight… I wanted to give some of my subs a chance to learn how to play the game because the first team for the junior varsity, they have the basics down… so it was a little close. I want to respect MHS, obviously, because they are a good team, so I just needed to put my starters back in order to finish out the game. It’s also a test of mentality.

It’s something that I was teaching the girls—something like mentality is what gets you across the line when your physical ability is equal,” he said.

When asked about the season starting, he said he was “very happy because we missed last year so we definitely are gearing up, excited to play this year. We’re excited to show everyone on the island what we have been practicing, training for and here we are.”

Jiahui Chen, Zixuan Chen, Mary Fu, Xiuying Huang, Yuhon Lin, Jingyi Wang, Zining Wang, Saiwen Wu, Yason Zhang, Miejia Zhao, and Ruishi Zhu make up the ACS’ junior varsity roster.

In the adjacent north court, the game between Grace Christian Academy and Saipan International School junior varsity teams rolled out as well, with GCA claiming the win 21-7, 21-9.

Over in the second series of games in the afternoon, the varsity teams took to the court. Mount Carmel School’s varsity team conquered a strong ACS varsity team in three sets, with the final set score of 15-7. 

ACS stumbled in the first set, losing with a close final score of 19-21, but came back in the second set, 21-13. However, MCS bounced back in the third and final set to win their first game of the season.

In the last game pitting Grace Christian Academy against Kagman High School varsity teams, GCA came up with the win in two sets, 21-6, 21-14. 

In Day 1 of the new season, the Saipan Southern High School junior varsity team defeated MHS 9’s junior varsity in three exciting sets, 21-11, 17-21, 15-11.

The other JV game played between KHS and MCS was controlled by MCS, winning in only two sets, 21-11, 21-15.

In the varsity games played after, the SSHS and GCA varsity teams played, with GCA winning after two sets. 

And finally, Saipan International School varsity team beat home team MHS varsity team in two sets, 21-18, 21-14.

Currently in the junior varsity standings, ACS JV, SSHS JV, MCS JV, and GCA JV are all 1-0, while MHS 9, KHS JV, SIS JV, and MHS are 0-1.

In the varsity standings, GCA is on top at 2-0, with SIS and MCS both at 1-0. SSHS, KHS, and ACS are all at 0-1.
The Public School System Girls High School Volleyball League 2022-2023 is being held with help from the Northern Mariana Islands Volleyball Association.