THE Public School System continues to keep its students moving and healthy by, among other things, holding a 4v4 beach volleyball tournament starting on Saturday at the Fiesta Resort & Spa.
Mount Carmel School 1 plays against Hopwood Middle School 3 in this 2019-2020 PSS Interscholastic Girls Middle School Volleyball Tournament game at the MHS gym.
MV file photo
Ten teams for the boys and girls divisions are competing and they include Marianas High School, Saipan International School, Agape Christian School, Mount Carmel School, Grace Christian Academy, Tinian and Rota.
Although PSS volleyball tournaments usually go with the 6v6 format, PSS athletic director Nick Gross decided to switch to 4v4 to reduce the risk of exposure to Covid-19.
“By changing the format from our typical 6v6 indoor league to 4v4 beach volleyball, we’ve been able to mitigate the possibility of exposure to Covid,” he said. “Individuals are responsible for their own drinks, as we are unable to safely have watering stations. Along with these changes, all participants, coaches, and supporters are asked to practice the ‘3 W’s’ while in attendance”: Wear a mask, Wash your hands, Watch your distance.
With the success of the recently held All-School Cross Country, Gross said he and his team should be able to run the volleyball tournament smoothly.
“Due to the planning that has been put in place, I feel that we have the opportunity to grow the sport of volleyball and put on a successful event that our community can be proud of,” he said.
“With our hosting of the 2022 Mini Pacific Games and beach volleyball being one of the sports, this will hopefully be a great opportunity to introduce beach play to our young athletes,” he added.
Next on the list of sports for PSS are the co-ed outrigger, 4v4 grass volleyball and more.
“Currently, we are awaiting approval of a minor permit through [the Bureau of Environmental and Coastal Quality] and the Covid-19 Task Force to conduct our annual co-ed outrigger season for high school students,” Gross said.
“We are anticipating a Feb. 13 start, but we may be forced to postpone, pending approvals.”
He said they are also “anticipating a March 1 kickoff to our middle school 4v4 grass volleyball season for boys and girls. League play is currently slated for Austerity Monday afternoons at the CPA (Airport) Field. Along with these opportunities, we are exploring our ability to safely get soccer going at all levels, our annual PSS/ McDonald’s All School Track and Field (Athletics) season, girls fast pitch softball as well as basketball, either 5v5 or amended to 3v3. Hopefully, as the vaccination roll-out program continues, and the task force continues to monitor and keep us safe, we can turn the corner on the pandemic and get back to the business of community wellness through sports for the students of the CNMI.”
