WPS rallies vs GCA to win title

Whispering Palms School rallied in the third set to defeat Grace Christian Academy, 25-23, 12-25, 16-14, and capture its second championship in the junior varsity division of the 2008 Coalition of Private Schools Sports Association volleyball league at the Marianas High School Gymnasium yesterday.

The Terns leaned on Raina Klaver’s five consecutive serves in a 6-0 run as they stalled the Eagles offense and rallied from a 10-14 deficit in the deciding third set to win the match and the title.

“This is my second year in the team,” said Klaver as she ran around and hugged friends following her heroics in the game.

Klaver did not see action in the first two sets but WPS coach Mark McDonald summoned her in the third.

The Terns, who were runners-up to deposed champion Seventh Day Adventist last year, struggled to win the first set.

Behind the consistent all-around playmaking of most valuable player Kim Min Sung, the Eagles easily won the first set. A.J. Batallones also helped, scoring 10 straight service points in an 11-0 run that gave the Eagles a commanding 22-7 lead for the second set win, which leveled the count at 1-1.

In the third set, the Eagles easily raced to a 12-4 run behind the slices of Min Sung and big man Daniel Camacho.

But the Terns rallied back with a 6-0 run on Clay McCullough-Stearns’ five straight serve points to cut the lead at 10-12.

Then, Stearns’ wide return and a service winner by Battalones made it 14-10 for the Eagles that caused McDonald to call timeout.

In the resumption of play, Battalones erred on her serve that could have made the big difference.

Klaver simply stood her ground at the service zone and lifted the Terns to the crown with five serve points, including the two service winners in the final two points of the game.

“They got back their concentration in the game. During the timeout I told them just to put in the ball. I really have confidence Raina can make it and that’s it,” McDonald said.

GCA coach Mark Robles was glad that they have reached the championship after finishing fourth last year.

One of GCA’s starters, Kallie O’Connor, had to fly to Australia yesterday, which compounded the Eagles’ woes in defense.

Earlier in the day, Calvary Christian Academy defeated Saipan International School Green, 25-21, 25-19 for third place.

Aside from the overall MVP, each school also chose their school MVP.

They were J. Hoom Choi (CCA), Batallones (GCA), Christian Mizer (MCS), Frankie Camacho (SCS), Jacinia Richards (SDA), Emily Hsieh (SIS-B), Angelo Jones (SIS-G), and Jake Lee (WPS).

Lee proved his prowess as he led the Terns in winning the third set with his booming serves. He did it also in the Terns’ victory over SDA in the semifinals on Wednesday.

Members of WPS’ champion team are Joon Ko, Ilia Corella, Klaver, Kristina Folta, Christian Miller, Jake Lee, Cody Race, Clay McCullough-Stearns, Phalai Frink, and Minori Yoshida.

Saipan Community School was adjudged as this year’s sportsmanship awardee after votes cast by the different schools.

The playoffs for the high school division will be played next week starting Monday.