The defending champion — Saipan International School — will live up to their reputation after advancing on a two-set semifinal win (25-14, 25-14) versus Mount Carmel School last Monday.
Drawing a bye in the quarterfinals, Grace Christian Academy surmounted Calvary Christian Academy in two sets to advance to the championship yesterday.
The CCA Sharks had earlier eliminated Marianas Baptist Academy on a close 16-14 win in their third set on Monday. However they couldn’t outlast the taller and faster Eagles who won the first set, 25-15.
The Sharks retaliated, using GCA’s mistakes against them to lead by four points in set two. GCA frontrunner Dae Min Jeon returned to the court and fired back on a spike to tie the score at 19-19. Teammate James Libut quickly ended the match after launching the ball to CCA’s Amy Taylor, who made an out-of-bound return. GCA won, 25-20 to avoid a third set.
Last year, the Geckos claimed the varsity title after a 15-12 victory and ended GCA’s six-year reign.
Angelo Salas, Jeon, and Libut are among some of the Eagles’ returning players. GCA will look to gain another championship trophy after bagging the junior varsity volleyball title against WPS last Thursday.
