Sharks, Terns advance to semis in HS volleyball

Calvary Christian Academy went through the eye of the needle to score its biggest victory so far this season.

The Sharks rallied from a first set loss to oust defending champion Seventh Day Adventist, 16-25, 25-16, 15-11, in the round of eight in the ongoing playoffs of the 2008 Coalition of Private Schools Sports Association Volleyball Tournament yesterday at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

“I had to calm them down after losing the first set. After they relaxed, they played better as a team,” said the Sharks’ coach Asia Michaleun a few minutes after the game.

The huge win by the Sharks sent all Top 4 teams after the two-round robin eliminations into the semifinal round of the middle school division.

Earlier, Whispering Palms also earned a semis slot by beating Saipan Community School in straight sets, 25-20, 25-10.

The Sharks, who placed seventh last year, was ranked No. 2 after the elimination round, while the WPS Terns was No. 3.

On Monday’s start of the playoffs, No. 1 Grace Christian Academy and No. 4 Saipan International School-Green also reached the semis by winning over their respective opponents.

The GCA Eagles stamped their class over No. 8 SIS-Blue, 25-19, 25-18, while the SIS Green Geckos pulled out a hard-earned 25-19, 25-22 victory over No. 5 Mount Carmel.

SDA, which lost most of its champion players this year due to graduation, settled for seventh place in the eliminations.

SCS finished in the bottom of the eight-team field league.

The semis will start at 3:30pm today with the Eagles posed as the heavy favorite to win against the Green Geckos.

The Eagles closed out their elimination matches with a 12-2 record, including 2-0 against the Green Geckos.

The Sharks and the Terns, the two teams that gave the Eagles a loss this year, will also square off at 3:30pm in the other semifinal match-up.

Asked about their chances, Michaleun said their game against the Terns would be a very close game.

“It will just depend on who’s going to play well in the game,” she said.

Michaleun said they have two more games left to win to claim that elusive crown, which she said would be the biggest challenge for the team and for her personally—as a first-time coach.

“I’m very nervous,” said the 24-year-old mentor.