Lady Eagles remain undefeated in v-ball

Eagles varsity player Azriel Fatialofa goes up for a spike that led to a point against Agape Christian School in the last regular season game of the 2022-2023 Public School System girls volleyball league last Thursday at the Marianas High School Gymnasium. (LEIGH GASES)

Grace Christian Academy soared out of the regular season and into the postseason as their varsity team completed an undefeated 7-0 win-loss record and their junior varsity team finished second at 6-1 as the regular season of the Public School System Girls High School Volleyball League 2022-2023 wrapped up Thursday at the Marianas High School Gymnasium.

GCA’s varsity team out spiked the Agape Christian School varsity team in two swift sets, 21-13, 21-14, with the Lady Eagles’ middle blocker, Azriel Fatialofa, smashing the ball in the opposite court at speeds that the Torchbearers could not bear.

The Torchbearers had good returns and landed some points, but could not catch up with the ferocity of the Lady Eagles’ hard-hitting spikes and serves, and eventually failed to force a third tie-breaking set.

 Before the varsity bout, the junior varsity squad had a go in their last game of the season, which they won over Marianas High School 9 in two close sets, 23-21, 21-18.

Varsity team head coach Cesar Libut gave her girls all the credit for going unscathed in the regular season.

“It seems like we’re doing something right because they were undefeated. The players are really dedicated even though they’ve been winning. The dedication and the hard work is always there. And it doesn’t matter what the other opponent is, if it’s weak or strong… in our mind it’s the strongest team, so let’s put everything in there. They work so hard for it every day.”

The five-time champion coach added that they will surely try for a sixth title.

“We have parents who have been very supportive. The players are really pulling everything they have and as a coach I’m so privileged to coach them; they’re ready for [the] playoffs.”

Junior varsity coach Julie Harrison said they’ve also been having a nice run so far.

“It was a good season. The girls are excited to play. We maybe struggled a little bit during this game, but they were able to still pull through and fight for it because they really, really did want to win. So, I’m proud of them specifically for fighting and not giving up even when they were a little nervous.”

Co-coach Kriszelle Esteves added “we [have been] proud of them since the beginning. From the Day 1 I started coaching until now, they have improved a lot…”

Aside from Fatialofa, the GCA varsity team is composed of Hye Jin Elliott, Katriel Saures, Soleil Lamar, Vicky Wang, Allyssa Omampo, Cassie Regan, and Eunice Pagaduan.

The GCA junior varsity team includes Hannah Tenorio, Nieves Villagomez, Cherries Camacho, Eunji Hahn, Kaydece Gilespie, Taehee Kim, Beatrice Fabre, Mariana Angeles, and Fiona Regan.

In other results, Marianas High School JV beat Kagman High School JV in two sets, 21-8, 21-8.

The other varsity game was Mount Carmel School against Saipan International School, with SIS coming out victorious in three sets, 20-22, 21-10, 9-15.

After the 7-0 Lady Eagles, MCS followed at 5-2, SIS 4-3, ACS, 4-4, MHS and KHS are at 3-4, SSHS are at 1-5, THS is 2-2, and RHI is 0-4. 

Coming next after GCA’s junior varsity are MHS JV and MHS 9 at ended 5-2, SSHS JV ended at 5-3, SIS and MCS both finished at 3-5, ACS is 3-4, and KHS is 2-5.

The playoffs will start on Thursday, Oct. 20 at 6:15pm. This gives ample time for the teams to recuperate before the postseason.

The Public School System Girls High School Volleyball League 2022-2023 is being held with help from the Northern Mariana Islands Volleyball Association.