Schools serving up fierce competition

The indoor and outdoor volleyball scene has been jam packed with regular season and tournament contests as the Private Schools Volleyball League winds down and the 8th Annual Miller Lite Coed Four-Person Volleyball League continues on the Pacific Islands Club sand court.

There is plenty of interest in bumps, sets, and spikes among the youth of Saipan, which is illustrated by the six scholastic teams that signed up for the beachside competition on the San Antonio sand.

League coordinators were forced to split the field into two divisions to accommodate the plethora of pupil players at the PIC, and all have found some level of success against some of Saipan’s top teams.

Marianas High School represented the public schools with four teams in the Tuesday-Thursday evening league with the Kawawang Dolphins, Dolphins-Not Ashamed, Dolphins-Blue Shiner, and Dolphins-Just Wanna Have Fun, while the Saipan International School Geckos and the Grace Christian Academy Eagles checked in from the private sector.

Talented players abound as the students currently find themselves just outside of the playoff picture with a chance to break through any night.

The frontrunners of the Blue Division recently increased their lead over the eight-team field as the undefeated Dingleberries, Kraken, and Luther’s Ride improved to 4-0 last week.

Noke Rogopes and Somethin’ Fishy holds the final playoff spot at 2-2, but there are still three games remaining on the schedule for GCA (1-3) and Dolphins Just Wanna Have Fun (1-3) to snatch it away.

Things are even closer in the Yellow Division as We’re All Going Streaking and Pulullun Part II extended their undefeated streaks to four games, while five teams are within a game of each other for the final two playoff slots.

Fotten Gaga and Battered Fish Sticks have the inside track at 2-2, but the Geckos have the same record and could easily leap ahead with Rob Eply, Melisa Halaby, and Lena Guzman on the sand.

The Dolphins are in the mix as well with Blue Shiner and Not Ashamed each a game back at 1-3. The students come to the PIC with more than enough players and supporters to give them a home court advantage, and they’ll need it to take the next step.

The action continues tonight as Dolphins-Just Wanna Have Fun (1-3) faces off against the Kawawang Dolphins (0-4) at 5:30pm, followed by the Eagles of Grace Christian Academy against Afternoon Delight (0-4) at 6:30pm. Luther’s Ride (4-0) battles Kraken (4-0) at 7:30pm, followed by the finale between Somethin’ Fishy (2-2) and the Dingleberries at 8:30pm.

The Yellow Division has the rest of the week off and returns next Tuesday, Nov. 7, when E.J. Lee’s Battered Fish Sticks battle Dolphins-Blue Shiner at 5:30pm, followed by another Dolphins squad match when Not Ashamed squares off against the Saipan International School Geckos at 6:30pm.

Fotten Gaga gets into the mix at 7:30pm against Dale “Dread Pirate” Roberts and We’re All Going Streaking, while the master of wireless communication James Lee and SaipanCell tries to dial-up a win against undefeated Pulullun Part II at 8:30pm.