Leapers get first win at PIC

After back-to-back meetings last week, the Marianas High School Dolphin Leapers scored a sweep of the all-Clubmate Last Call squad on Tuesday night as the 7th Annual Spring Co-ed Four’s Beach Volleyball League returned from its weekend hiatus at the Pacific Islands Club.

There was little doubt that the Leapers were hungry for victory as they jumped out to take the opening set, 11-3, and clinched the win soon thereafter by downing Last Call in the second, 11-6.

Despite spirited play, captain Amanda Puleo’s fiercesome foursome was unable to stop the students, but Last Call continued to push for victory as the sun began to set.

With their first “W” already in hand, the Leapers added a little insult to injury by skunking the Clubmates, 11-0, in the final set to improve their record to 1-2. By doing so, the Leapers became the first of the MHS triumvirate to earn a win this season, but the Divers and Splashers have plenty of talent as well.

The Leapers return to the sand tonight when they face their classmates on the Splashers squad at 5:30pm while winless Last Call (0-3) takes on the MHS Dolphin Divers at 6:30pm.

Lite U Up 3, MHS Dolphin Divers 0

While the MHS Dolphin Leapers earned their first win of the season, their classmates had a rough go of it on the San Antonio sand as the MHS Dolphin Divers were on the losing end of a 33-6 beat down from undefeated Lite U Up.

Linda Anastacio’s band of bumpers, setters, and spikers relentlessly raced through the scoring ranks by bagging 11-2, 11-1, and 11-3 wins in straight sets to make quick work of the students en route to taking the top spot in the standings at 2-0.

So far Lite U Up has allowed a mere 15 points against and has yet to lose a set, while the Divers remain among the dregs of the league at 0-2 and have been outscored nearly 2 to1 each time out.

Anastacio’s squad sports stars like Dan Westphal, Dale “Dread Pirate” Roberts, Peter Hauk, Leo Wania, Melissa Halaby, and Jeff Rezai, and they will need all their talents tonight when they challenge the undefeated Dirk Digglers (2-0) at 7:30pm.

Ying Yang Clan 2, Victoria’s Secret 1

“Chair Man” Maxie Kuan’s Ying Yang Clan scored another victory at the PIC on Tuesday night as his high-powered team edged Victoria’s Secret with bookend set wins in one of the more competitive matches of the night.

The Ying Yang Clan made a statement early by taking the opening set with a one-sided 11-2 win, but they were denied an easy overall win when Stephanie Arnold’s team eked out a narrow 11-9 win in the second to even the game.

With Nick Castro and crafty setter Nick Gross joining with Arnold to give the Clan a run for their money, but Kuan’s band of bashers prevailed under the lights in the finale, 11-8.

The Ying Yang Clan (2-0) returns to action tonight against Sand In My Pants (1-0) at 8:30pm, while Victoria’s Secret (1-1) will have to wait until next Tuesday for revenge when they take on the MHS Dolphin Splashers at 6:30pm.

Just Put It In 2, Chafed Grundle 1

The last game of the night was also a thriller as Just Put It In overcame inconsistent play to overtake Chafed Grundle in the finale despite blowing a 5-1 in the final set. Ike Diopolus directed his team on the courts and from the sidelines to snag a hotly contested opening set that went deep into extra points, 13-11.

Once they switched sides Just Put It In lost all momentum as Chafed Grundle ran away with an 11-5 win in the second set to tie even the contest at a set apiece. With the game on the line, Diopolus, Quincy Johnson, Martin Castro, and Kelly Butcher came out strong in the third by taking a 5-1 lead, but they lost their steam and found themselves locked in a 5-5 tie.

Back and forth play brought the game to a 9-9 tie as Mark McDonald battled illness and exhaustion to keep Chafed Grundle (1-1) in the hunt, but Just Put It In (2-1) scored on a pair of unreturnable serves to win out. They return to face Last Call next Tuesday at 8:30pm while the Grundle take on the undefeated Dirk Digglers an hour earlier at 7:30pm.