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Mariana beats Miyazawa in Annual Rocball Game
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Posted on Mar 12 2001
In the 15th annual Cultural and Sports Exchange Program between Mariana High School and Miyazawa High School out of Yokohama, Japan, Mariana Rocball players defeated their international opponents “Juice” in 4 sets 57 to 27.
In the first set, Saipan Mariana Rocball players buried their Yokohama Miyazawa opponents in a 16 to 4 match set. In the second set,Miyazawa Rocball players came back and knocked off Mariana in a 15 to 6 match set.
At the end of the second set of Rocball’s unique quarter/set system of play, Marianas had a 22 to 19 lead. This is the closest any team from Miyazawa has been in competition since 1991.
In the third set, Marianas came out blasting. And, because of Rocball’s rules of defensive scoring, team Marianas was able to score one of the biggest scunk sets in recent memory. Marianas destroyed Miyazawa in the third set 18 to 0.
So, going onto the fourth set, with a 21 point lead, Marianas was feeling a little to comfortable, maybe even a little to over confident.
Because, it was Miyazawa’s turn to burn. Miyazawa came out smoking and dumped Marianas 5 points in the hole.
And, having to work out of 5 points below zero almost cost Marianas their four set juice victory.
Miyazawa came very close to winning the fourth set and forcing the game into O-kon. Miyazawa was at point 14 and match set but were unable to make the final kill point.
The veteran Rocball players of Marianas refused to lie down and die.
The Marianas players rallied and fought back from their 14 to 2 deficit in the fourth set. And, in the end, were able to pull out a fourth set win at 17 to 8.
In this high scoring game of ups and downs their were 18 aces, 9 xunks, 11 kees, and 7 goals scored. On the Miyazawa team, Shinichiro Tanimura and Motonobu Atsume were their team’s heavy hitters. Shinichiro scored 1 ace, 1 kee, and 1 goal for 6 points and Motonobu scored 4 aces and 2 xunks for 12 points.
The brothers Seman, Melvin and Kelvin were team Marianas heavy hitters with a combined score of 3 aces, 1 xunk, 4 kees, and 3 goals for 25 points.
