MBA an emerging indoor power

The private school indoor volleyball league has provided a number of memorable moments this season and a couple of them occurred recently as the youngsters from Marianas Baptist Academy scored big wins over the top teams.

In back-to-back weeks the junior varsity and varsity squads took down high-powered teams from Whispering Palms School and Grace Christian Academy, respectively.

The JV Stormz has only lost two games during the regular season, as they fell to WPS and GCA, while the up-and-coming varsity players have dropped three games overall with a loss to GCA and a pair to Mount Carmel before closing out their slate by winning their last three games.

Head coach Stan Good said that the first varsity game against GCA on Tuesday was one of the best indoor volleyball games that he has ever watched.

“The Grace team (has) excellent spikers but MBA consistently blocked their spikes, set up their own spikes and would often just tap the ball over the Grace players.

The Stormz dominated the first set as they opened with a 25-14 win but they suffered a setback in the second game, as GCA rallied with a 25-12 win to tie the set count at one apiece.

The rubber match proved to be the most thrilling of the three as the score was all knotted up at 9-9 before MBA pulled

“To be honest MBA was shocked over the win as they have never beaten Grace in volleyball. I think Grace was also surprised at the level of play from MBA. The week before the junior varsity team was equally surprised when they beat Whispering Palms. Once again, the kids from MBA remained consistent and played their game. Our defense held and the girls’ consistent serves kept MBA ahead,” he said.

Good said that he is impressed with the way his players have performed—especially despite MBA’s lack of organized athletics on campus.

“As the coach for both teams I am very pleased the kids have rallied this late in the season and have worked hard to get better. MBA has no Physical Education program and the sports program is only organized by parent volunteers such as myself,” he said.

The playoffs start soon and Good said that all of the schools will be gunning for MBA. The coach said that the Stormz are inspired to practice hard and hope to keep winning in this, their season to remember.