Tight race for top seeding

Grace Christian Academy’s Jasmine Phan hits the ball during their game against Mt. Carmel School in the 2018-2019 PSS Interscholastic Volleyball League last week at the Marianas High School Gymnasium. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

Grace Christian Academy and Mt. Carmel School are in a close fight for the top seeding in the 2018-2019 PSS Interscholastic Volleyball League.

The Lady Eagles, pending results of yesterday’s matches in the girls high school division at the Marianas High School Gymnasium, are on top of the team rankings with their 8-1 record after earning back-to-back victories last Thursday. The Knights also played last week and recorded one win for a 7-2 mark.

Mt. Carmel was pitted against Saipan Southern High School and prevailed in all three sets to take win No. 7. The Lady Knights pulled off a 25-20 triumph in the opening set and then eased past the Lady Rays in the second, 25-12 for the outright victory. Mt. Carmel went on to complete the sweep with a 15-10 win in the third set.

GCA, on the other hand, needed three sets to thwart MHS in the first game last week. The Lady Dolphins stunned the league-leading team in the first set, 25-20, but missed earning the upset when the Lady Eagles battled back in the second with a 25-18 victory. GCA then grabbed the win after outclassing MHS in the deciding third set, 15-10.

For its second game that day, GCA swept Kagman High School, but the win was not that easy, especially in the second set. The Lady Eagles prevailed by nine points in the first set, 25-16 and then won by only two in the second, 25-23. GCA wrapped up the shutout victory with a 15-9 triumph in the third.

In other results last Thursday, Saipan International School took the first two sets of its match over MHS, 25-9, 25-14, to gain the automatic victory. The Lady Dolphins saved some face after topping the third set, 15-9.

With the win, SIS kept the No. 4 spot with its 6-4 record, just a notch behind Saipan Southern (7-3), while MHS (4-6) is at the bottom half of the team standings along with Kagman (4-6), and Agape Christian School (0-11).

Two more playing days are left in the regular season before the final rankings and playoff seedings are determined. Seeding is important, as the Top 4 will be paired against the lower-ranked teams in the first round of the double-elimination playoffs. Tinian and Rota teams, if they make it to this weekend’s playoffs, will be seeded No. 5 and 6, respectively.

League-leading GCA was scheduled to face Saipan Southern yesterday in the 5:30pm match on the north court, while MHS and Mt. Carmel were set to collide on the south court. Other pairings in the penultimate day of the regulation were Agape vs SIS and Mt. Carmel vs Kagman at 4:30pm. Tomorrow, GCA will have its last two games against SIS and MHS, while Mt. Carmel will close out its assignment against Saipan Southern.

Playoff games will begin this Friday at 12pm, while Game 1 of the finals is set for Saturday, starting at 1pm. Game 2, in necessary will also be played on Saturday at 2pm.