Faulker and Steamers sweep the competition

Three teams made their last stands Tuesday night as their season came to a close in the fifth consecutive Coors Light Co-ed Beach Volleyball League on the sand courts behind the Pacific Islands Club.

Faulker (6-2) and Cleveland Steamers closed out their final matches with convincing three-set sweeps over their foes, while Gansha (3-5) put to rest a season of lackluster play by picking up their fifth loss. Givity (3-4) showed signs of hope in their win, while the Rusty Slinkys (2-5) and That’s Not Yogurt (1-6) were just happy to be a part of the night’s festivities. Team 9 (6-1), Cyphers (5-2), and Government Cheese (1-6) were out of the action Tuesday, but get back on the scene tonight.

The first game of the night was between one of the league’s top performing teams and one of the league’s top underachievers. Faulker came into the match up with a 5-2 record and was looking to end the season by earning a sixth win. The Slinkys walked onto the sand with a disappointing 2-4 in the midst of a four-game slide.

It wasn’t even close as Faulker crushed the Slinkys in three straight sets, 11-2, 11-3, and 11-6. With the win, Faulker sits a half game back of the first place Team 9, which leads the league in points scored (238), sets won (17), and has the lowest points against (144). If the 9 lose their final contest, Faulker would be the first place team and win the big prize for the regular season championship. All they can do is wait and see what happens in tonight’s 7pm match up between Team 9 and Givity.

Rusty Slinkys have one last chance to break their five game skid with a victory in their game tonight with That’s Not Yogurt at 6pm.

The Cleveland Steamers were a middle-of-the-road team midway through the season with a 2-2 record, but since have been on a four-game tear. At 6-2, the Steam Team is tied for second with Faulker via their sweeping victory over the less than stellar That’s Not Yogurt, 11-5, 11-2, and 11-9. They may not be able to win the regular season crown, but they have pulled themselves together to become a solid contender as the playoffs draw near.

The spirit of Yogurt is much brighter than their team record. At 1-6, they join Government Cheese in the cellar, and have one last chance for a two-victory season in their game against Rusty Slinkys.

In the final event of the night, Gansha faced Givity in their final game of the season. In the opening set, it seemed that there was no sense of urgency for Gansha as they were on the losing end of an 11-3 decision. They got their game together in the second set, bagging an 11-8 win before dropping the third 11-7. This was the third straight loss for Gansha in a season that never shaped up the way that they had planned. Givity has the chance to pull off the upset of the season if they can knock off Team 9 tonight at 7pm.

The final game of the regular season will be played tonight at 8pm in a battle that will showcase one of the league’s best teams in Cyphers (5-2), and one of the league’s best named teams, Government Cheese (1-6).

The PIC volleyball season schedules games to be played Tuesdays and Thursdays at 6pm, 7pm, and 8pm through the end of the season on Thursday, June 10.

The team with the best win-loss record after eight games will be crowned the regular season champ, and a single-elimination tournament will be played Tuesday, June 15, for additional prizes.

Each team of seven players is permitted four players on the court, with the stipulation that one female be on the court at all times.

All the side-outs you can handle will be doled out again tonight at the PIC. If you would like further information about the Coors Light 4-Person Beach Volleyball League 2004, contact the Pacific Islands Club by calling 235-6231.