Defending champs SIS survive 1st MS v-ball game

The defending champs Saipan International School Geckos survived their first day back on the volleyball courts after taking the win in a deciding third set of the NMIVA-PSS Interscholastic Boys Middle School Volleyball League 2023-2024.

The Geckos went up against Tanapag Middle School Tatagas in a rowdy Marianas High School Gymnasium last Tuesday and lost the first set, 16-21. It must have been nerves as the Geckos regained their composure and proceeded to bring the Tatagas to their knees in the second set.

Hard-spiking Theo Joab smacked kills that the Tatagas could not get to and was complemented by untouchable aces by Landon Springer. While the Tatagas’ momentum was shot, the Geckos went on overdrive to win the second set, 21-8, and force a tie-breaker.

The Tatagas regrouped and the third set was full of back and forth action, but the Geckos’ rotation that included Joab, Springer, Jude Rayphand, Kanoa Owens, William Guo, Landon Pudney, and Jin Hyun Felix Choi, held them down long enough, 15-11, to take their first win of the season.

TMS is made up of Ali Santos, Benigno Sablan, Christopher Sablan, Collin Maratita, Damien Santos, Derence Benjamin, Justin Garde, Selah Coleman, Aiken Norita, Leeon Neth, Dyson Danis, and Carl Hocog.

In other results, Hopwood Middle School II just slipped past Francisco M. Sablan Middle School II in another three tough sets, 12-21, 21-14, 16-14; Chacha Ocean View Middle School bested SIS II, 21-11, 22-20; TMS II routed Dandan Middle School II, 21-8, 21-17; Mount Carmel School edged Grace Christian Academy, 6-21, 21-16, 15-10; and FMS defeated DMS 21-17, 21-16.