Four schools advance at Ada Gym

After weeks of competition arranged the seedings, eight varsity teams from the Private Schools Volleyball League met upon the rubberized surface at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium yesterday afternoon—each on a mission to make it to the second round in hopes of eventually reaching tomorrow’s title game.

The top-ranked Grace Christian Academy Eagles (13-1) were the first to advance to the next rung on the ladder when they made short work of the kids from the EUCON School (0-14) with a two-set sweep, 25-21 and 25-13. With the match in hand, the blue-shirted Eagles sat back and watched as their toughest competition was eliminated via forfeit as Mount Carmel School (12-2) violated the league’s uniform policy by not having any.

It was a tough pill to swallow for the PSVL’s second-place team, but Seventh Day Adventist School was not too big to take the second round berth.

Both of the late games provided plenty of drama as each of them went down to the wire in the third set. Northern Marianas Academy (5-6) played well above their record when they challenged Calvary Christian Academy (8-6), as each of the three sets were decided by two points.

After trailing 23-12, NMA rallied back to take the first set, 26-24, but CCA rebounded to take the second 25-23. With parents and students cheering from the brown bleachers, CCA bagged the third and final set 16-14.

Much of the same happened on the other court as the top players from Marianas Baptist Academy (8-5) faced the strikers from Saipan International School (5-8), as the teams needed al three sets to decide the game.

The Geckos came out on fire to shock MBA, 25-14, in the opener, but the black-shirted spikers dug deep to stave off elimination in the marathon second set by pulling out a 27-25 win.

With emotions running high on both sides of the net, MBA kept their focus and edged SIS, 15-8, in the clincher to move on. Action continues this afternoon, as the winners will go head to head at 3:30pm for the rights to play in tomorrow’s championship.

The junior varsity teams get their shot in the playoffs this Friday, Oct. 28, as the undefeated SIS squad (14-0) takes on SDA (2-12), while MBA (12-2) faces SCS (3-10) at 2:30pm at the Ada Gym.

When they’re finished, MCS (8-6) will take on CCA (4-10), while GCA (8-6) challenges Whispering Palms School (6-6) at 3:30pm.

The four winners will return to the spooky courts on Halloween, Monday, Oct. 31, for the semifinals, and both the championship and consolation games will be played on Thursday, Nov. 3.