MHS opens 2nd half of season with win

Marianas High School’s varsity squad continued to roll past its opponents in the 2014-2015 Marianas Interscholastic Sports Organization Girls Volleyball League.

Saipan International School’s Huh Ye Dam eyes the ball as she prepares to make a return in their game against Saipan International School JV in the Marianas Interscholastic Sports Organization Girls Volleyball League last Tuesday at the Marianas High School Gymnasium.
(Jon Perez)

The Lady Dolphins, despite playing back-to-back games again last Tuesday at the MHS Gymnasium, won both of their matches to hike their record to 6-0.

MHS pulled off a 25-21, 25-13, 15-13 victory over the Saipan Southern High School Lady Manta Rays in their last match in the first round and then opened the second half of the volleyball season with a win against the Grace Christian Academy Lady Eagles in the all-varsity matches.

Against SSHS, the Jacoby Winkfield-mentored team blew hot and cold as they led from the start in the first set before thwarting the Lady Mantas’ repeated attempts to turn the game to their favor.

The Lady Dolphins flexed their muscles in the second and just blew past the Lady Mantas to seal the win. But they again played a little bit relaxed in the final frame that nearly gave the third set to SSHS.

All three sets are played in the first round with the scores to be tallied and used to break ties in the standings. In the second round, the game will go to a third set only if the match stands at 1-1.

“We’re already starting the second half of the season and games will be played best-of-three sets. We will only play a third set if needed,” said league coordinator Toni Yamada.

MHS kicked off its title defense drive in the second round with a tough 25-19, 26-24 decision over last year’s title rival GCA also last Tuesday.

The Lady Dolphins’ regular starting six of Shanna Flores, Knohlynn Gechig, Emily Jones, Beryl Kohnen, Sabrina Pangelinan, and Zarinae Sapong had to dig deep from their bag of tricks to complete the win.

MHS had to work hard for every point as GCA, fought gallantly before losing steam in the latter stages of both sets.

It was the Lady Dolphins’ third straight win against the Lady Eagles dating back from last year’s championship match. MHS also defeated GCA in their first meeting last Jan. 8 in the early rematch of last year’s finals. The Lady Dolphins dethroned the Lady Eagles—the 2013 champions—in last year’s title match, 24-26, 25-20, 18-16.

In other all-varsity games, GCA earlier scored a 25-10, 25-21, 12-15 win over Kagman High School, while Saipan International School downed Mt. Carmel School, 25-17, 25-17, 12-15. The Eagles evened their record to 3-3, while Kagman dropped to 1-4 and SIS improved to 3-2 to tie their victims.