Trends continue in IWVBL

The season-long trends of the Island Wide Volleyball League continued in perfect form on Tuesday night, as the top teams improved their records to inch closer to the post season, while the weaker teams took one on the nose, in action at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

When the players took the courts to start their warm up regimens, the inside of the Oleai facility was aglow with the energy of the island’s top volleyball talents, as well as a shipment of new light bulbs.

While all of the teams enjoyed the benefit of a newly illuminated Ada Gym, the Managaha Chiefs (6-2), Chuukanos (3-4), Haz Been (2-7), and the She Devils (7-2) all left the courts with notches in their win columns.

The Chiefs extended their win total to six games when they made quick work of Shag (4-3) by downing the Rocball crossovers in straight sets, 25-16 and 25-20.

Larry Sharry provided much of the firepower in the opening stanza, as the leaper delivered a kill and an ace, while teammate Berny Neth stayed in a serving rhythm with eight salvos, including the set clincher.

Sharry took over the serving torch from Neth in the second set, but Jazz Roscow, Lucky Sharry, Andrew Ortega, Apple Samson and company worked together to muscle out the win with teamwork.

Shag will have their next night under the lights on Thursday, Feb. 3, when they challenge the Ol’Aces (2-5) at 7:30pm, while the Chiefs return to the court for their first game of the second round next Tuesday, Feb. 1, when they face the Chuukanos at 6:30pm.

The same Chuukanos team played like a team possessed when they kicked off the night’s activities with their game against the Monarchs (0-8), as they stormed out of the gates to take the first set 25-12. The Chuukanos pounded the Monarchs into submission with three kills and five aces before the winless team knew what hit them.

To their credit, the Monarchs rallied back in the second set and put on a show of their own, but Jessie Jones, Seran Som, Takson Iata, Johnson Jones, Terry Sam and company hand-delivered five more kills and another pair of aces to end the game in straight sets, 25-23.

The Monarchs will have their next chance at a win when they face the NMC Proa (3-4) next Tuesday, Feb. 1, at 7:30pm.

While the men were bumping, setting, and spiking on the north court, the women were providing excitement for the fans under the new lights of the south court, as the She Devils and the Haz Been improved their records in riveting games.

The She Devils reached the seven-win mark when they downed the up-and-coming T-8 (1-8) in straight sets, 25-18 and 25-21. Though the match was finished rather quickly, and the T-8 record is at the bottom of the league standings, the She Devils had to work hard in order to get by the hungry young team.

Mayumi Aguon hammered down a pair of kills in the first set, while serving machines Elaine Ogarto and Chariss Ruluked delivered half of the points and an ace apiece to close out the set.

Arcy Moncrief put on a clinic in the second set, as the shot put pro laid down five kills to match the output of her entire team. Frances Somorang had a pair of kills and an ace, while the rest of her squad had three.

The She Devils return to the Ada Gym on Thursday, Feb. 3, when they take on the Hitters (2-6) at 6:30pm, while T-8 plays again tonight against the Haz Been at 7:30pm.

The same Haz Been and Hitters went head-to-head on Tuesday night, and the Haz Been emerged from the three-set match with their second win of the season. After taking the first set 25-18, the Haz Been had the tables turned on them as they fell to the Hitters 22-25.

With the set count evened up at one apiece, the Haz Been caught fire and railed off eight straight points en route to winning the race to 15 points by the score of 15-11.

The Hitters face the first place Pikan Gaga (8-1) tonight at 6:30pm, while the Haz Been and T-8 have the late game.