Chiefs and Dragons keep pace in IWVBL

While the first place teams in the men’s and women’s divisions, of the Island Wide Volleyball League, the second place Managaha Chiefs and Dragons each pulled to within a game of the top spot with wins on Thursday night at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

The Chiefs edged past the Ol’ Aces in straight sets, winning the first 25-19 and the second in a squeaker that required extra points, 27-25. The “Double A’s” of Andrew Ortega and Apple Samoon provided the difference in the game for the Chiefs, as the duo seven kills and three aces to lift their team to its fifth win of the season.

The Managaha Chiefs at 5-1 are just a half-game behind the Lost Boyz (5-0) in the men’s division, but they have a chance at handing them their first loss when they go head to head at 6:30pm on Tuesday, Jan. 18.

The Ol’ Aces have slipped to a 1-5 record, but their place in the standings is not an accurate measure of the caliber of their play. Eli Rangamar and his group of track stars are just a couple of plays away from becoming one of the top teams in the division. They have been in every game so far this year, but need to find the ability to close out their close games. The Ol’ Aces will have their next shot at a victory on Thursday, Jan. 13, when they take on the Floaters at 7:30pm.

At 1-6, the Floaters have been on the losing end of the stick more often than not, and when they faced the rough and tumble NMC Proa (3-3), they were there again. After playing to 26-24 loss in the first set, the Floaters thought that they had their second win of the season in their grasp, but fell just three points shy when they dropped a 25-22 decision in the second set to pick up their sixth loss.

The Proa have had some problems finishing off the competition as well, but they are keeping their heads above water as the league nears the mid point of the schedule. Proa returns to action Thursday, Jan. 13 against Shag (4-1) at 7:30pm.

On the women’s side of the court, the Dragons (6-1) had an easier night against the Haz Been (1-6), as they pulled out a 25-22 win in the first set and a breezy 25-17 in the second. Aleta Glaze and Jazmine Anastacio hand delivered a couple of capital K’s to the last place squad, while Rika Matsumoto took care of business by dealing out Aces like she was in Vegas.

The Dragons are just a loss behind the undefeated Pikan Gaga (7-0), but they face their rivals in their next game on Thursday, Jan. 13 at 7:30pm, while the Haz Been have plenty of time to rest up before their game with Pikan Gaga on Thursday, Jan. 20 at 7:30pm.

The final game of the night was a disappointing forfeit by the Hitters in their match with Bootylicious. The Hitters didn’t help their cause, as they picked up their fifth loss to drop to 1-5. Bootylicious wasn’t complaining, as they picked up their third win for free, and look to earn their fourth on Tuesday, Jan. 18 at 7:30pm against the She Devils (4-2). The Hitters will try for their second win next Tuesday, Jan. 11, when they face the up and coming T-8.