Cleveland Steamers, Faulker, and Givity get the kwan

Members of the Inflatable Jihad were knocked back and forth over the net as the fifth consecutive Coors Light Co-ed Beach Volleyball League continued on the sand courts behind the Pacific Islands Club Tuesday night.

Cleveland Steamers (4-2), Faulker (5-1), and Givity (2-4) improved their standing in the standings, Cyphers (5-2), Government Cheese (1-5), and Rusty Slinkys (2-4) took a seat in defeat, and the idle Team 9 (5-1), Gansha (3-3), and That’s Not Yogurt (0-5) evacuated excess naval lint.

The first sandy dandy showcased the volleyball stylings of Cleveland Steamers and one of the league’s top teams in Cyphers. On paper, this match looked like a contest between an average team in the middle of the pack versus the high-powered goliath Cyphers, but that’s why they play the game.

The Steamers dropped all over the powerhouse, downing them in three straight sets, 11-1, 11-1, and 11-8 in one of the most one-sided matches thus far. Even after the poor showing, Cyphers still holds a narrow lead in the scoring race with 182, but this loss proved more costly than just a point race. This loss effectively takes them out of the regular season championship race and the money prizes associated with it. Now all of the focus will go toward tonight’s match-up between Faulker and Team 9 at 6pm.

The Steam Team is back in business tonight when they attempt to smoke Gansha at 7pm. Cyphers will be sitting on the sidelines until they face Government Cheese in the last game of the season on Thursday, June 10 at 8pm.

Faulker and Government Cheese were the second set of ball knockers to face each other Tuesday night. These teams are at different ends of the standings spectrum. Faulker easily mopped the floor with Government Cheese, taking them down 11-1, 11-5, and 11-4 in straight sets. Faulker is tied for the second most points for (181) with Team 9, and is riding the wave of a five-game winning streak. Government Cheese is free, or at least the team is able to play without having anything to lose. Inedible forms of dairy products will certainly be interested to discover tonight’s match-up between Government Cheese and That’s Not Yogurt at 7pm.

The final installment of master-set theater had Givity taking the sandy stage with Rusty Slinkys. Somebody had to win in this battle of the bourgeoisie, and that team was Givity. These teams are almost identical in every way, sharing 2-4 records, 155 points four, seven sets won, and a four-point difference in points against.

The first two sets were close, with Givity winning both by two points apiece (15-13, 11-9). The Slinkys came back to avoid a sweep in the third, saving face in their 11-6 victory.

This marks the first time since Thursday, May 6, that Givity has won a game, and it is also the fourth consecutive loss for the Rusty Slinkys, who exploded onto the scene winning their first two games. Givity gets their groove back next Tuesday, June 8, at 8pm while the Slinkys play in the 6pm match-up with Faulker on the same night.

Games are played Tuesdays and Thursdays at 6pm, 7pm, and 8pm through the end of the season on Thursday, June 13.

The team with the best win-loss record after eight games will be crowned the regular season champ, and a single-elimination tournament will be played Tuesday, June 15, for additional prizes.

Each team of seven players is permitted four players on the court, with the stipulation that one female be on the court at all times.

All the side-outs you can handle will be doled out again tonight at the PIC. If you would like further information about the Coors Light 4-Person Beach Volleyball League 2004, contact the Pacific Islands Club by calling 235-6231.