A pair of sweeps and squeaks in PIC V-ball

Months of pining for sideouts gone by were replaced with a flurry of bumps, set, and spikes on Tuesday night, as eight teams returned to the sand courts behind the Pacific Islands Club to usher in the 6th Annual Coors Light Four Person Beach Volleyball League.

Four sets of winners and losers left the sand with smiles having experienced the return of the unique rush of oceanside competition coursing through their veins, as onlookers relished the opportunity to see what this season’s talent pool offered.

The L.L. Sleese Staks, Small Hustlers, Monkeys and Bananas, and Smackers all started their spring campaign with wins, while the Crashers, Air Biscuits, Ganbarimasho, and …But We Don’t Swallow got off on the losing foot.

Captain Laurie Peterka and L.L. Sleese Staks look to make a run at the championship this year, and their prospects gained a foothold on the standings beachhead after their sweep in the season opener over the Crashers.

The Staks easily took the first set 11-1 over the Crashers with a mixture of effective communication and well executed play, and clinched the win with a much closer 11-8 second set. Following the loss, the Crashers lost a little motivation, and dropped the final set 11-1.

Though the game was already in hand, the L.L. Sleese Staks failed to let up because they knew that every point they surrendered would count against them in the standings. The second round of action got underway when the Small Hustlers dispatched Air Biscuits by taking two of the three sets. The Air Biscuits wafted to the top of an 11-9 opening set to take an early advantage, but had the tables turned in the second.

During the brief break between sets, the Small Hustlers freshened up and dealt the Air Biscuits their first loss of the season in extra points, 12-10.

Ganbarimasho tried to deliver the Smackers a smack down in their opener, but became the smackees in two of the three sets—all of which went into extra points. Andrew Ortega returned from the indoor action with the Managaha Chiefs to lead Ganbarimasho to a 13-11 victory in the first set, but Eddie Kim and the PIC Clubmate-laden Smackers bounced back with a 12-10 win to even the set count at one apiece.

Neither team was able to gain a sizable advantage in the third set, but the Smackers ultimately reached a two-point lead in the battle of the lifeguards to win the game 13-11.

The final game of the night featured a dominating performance by the Libweiirs!!, who beat …But We Don’t Swallow by a combined score of 33-6 in the second sweep of the night.

Though they suffered a one-sided loss, the members of …But We Don’t Swallow quickly put the game behind them and planned their post-game team building activities.

Each Tuesday and Thursday, four games consisting of three sets up to 11-points apiece will be played from 5:30pm to 10pm. Tonight’s action gets underway at 5:30pm when the Beach Side Rockers face off against Monkeys and Bananas to determine who gets their first win of the season, while first pick overall Tyce Mister and Yacchatta!! play their first game against the L.L. Sleese Staks at 6:30pm.

The Crashers get their second shot at their first win at 7:30pm when they try for a big game against the Small Hustlers, followed by the fragrant foray between the Air Biscuits and Ganbarimasho at 8:30pm.

The season may have just gotten started, but every game counts because there will be no playoffs due to the last games ending the same week as the start of the Seaside Grill Tournament, on Friday, June 17.

For more information about the 6th Annual Coors Co-ed Four Person Beach Volleyball League at the PIC, contact Jon, Evan, Dennis or Nan by calling 235-6231 ext. 5148.