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Those Guys rules March Madness v-ball tourney
Those Guys and Aloha players pose for a photo after their title match in the “March Madness’ volleyball fundraising tournament last Saturday at the Hyatt Regency Saipan sand court. (NMIVA Photo)
Those Guys topped the “March Madness” volleyball tournament last Saturday at the Hyatt Regency Saipan sand court.
The winning squad had Nicole LeBlanc, Rob Jordan, Rob Epley and Jeff Elliot as members and the quartet ruled the nine-team field after beating Aloha in the finals, 21-17. Aloha was made up of Alfredo Guevarra, Mike Omar, Charnessa Lizama, and Tony Yamada.
Those Guys was seeded first in the double-elimination playoffs after placing first in Pool B with its 4-0 record. It defeated Sak in its first game, 21-19, routed Lantiyas, 21-4, downed Last Minute, 21-12, and beat Under Dogs, 21-11.
In the playoffs, LeBlanc and her three male teammates kept their unbeaten record, prevailing against Sets on the Beach, 21-3, and Aloha, 21-17, to make it to the semifinals. In the semis, Those Guys was pitted against I’d Hit That and won anew, 21-15, to move into the finals with a twice-to-beat advantage.
With Those Guys getting the first finals ticket, Aloha and I’d Hit That were forced to duel for the second and last finals ticket. Aloha needed to eliminate Lantiyas first, 21-12, to earn the right to challenge I’d Hit That in the loser’s bracket semis match. Aloha went on to edge I’d Hit That’s, 22-20, to get a second crack at Those Guys.
Aloha was pressured to win against Those Guys twice in the finals to steal the win, but was denied right in Game 1 as the eventual champion retained its perfect record. I’d Hit That, who had Natalie Hill, Sylvia, Dale Roberts, and Steven Beyer as members, settled for third place.
I’d Hit That topped Pool A with its unbeaten 3-0 mark, while Aloha finished second with its 2-1 slate. The and Sets on the Beach registered 1-2 and 0-3 slates, respectively.
Knohlynn Gechig and Amie McRoberts organized “March Madness,” which was a fundraising tournament for one of the two high school girls teams that will go to Guam to compete in the Marianas Junior Cup this year.
