LL Sleese Staks rebound to take top spot

Less than a week after losing their first game of the season to the Libweiirs!!, the L.L. Sleese Staks recovered in sweeping fashion as they swept the formidable Monkey and Bananas to regain first place in the standings of the 6th Annual Coors Light Four-Person Beach Volleyball League.

Long-sleeved Laurie Peterka was flashing her Roxy gear beachside on Tuesday night on the Pacific Islands Club sand court, as her squad of setters capitalized on their opponents’ lack of star power to take all three sets by a combined score of 33-16.

Widely considered one of the top players in the CNMI, if not the best, Nan Intharaluk was unable to aid Monkeys and Bananas while on vacation in his native Thailand. The Bananas still had the tandem of Taula and Kadya Peter, Jay Jay Lu, and Paul Anthony, but the foursome was unable to overcome the cagey veterans of Sleese Staks.

After taking the first set in a closely contested 11-6 affair, the L.L. Sleese Staks swamped the Bananas with an overwhelming furry of bumps, sets, and spikes to clinch the overall win with an 11-3 whoopin’.

With the game already in hand, the Staks continued their success into the third by winning their league-leading 16th set by an 11-7 score. The win improved the L.L. Sleese Staks record to 6-1, while Monkeys and Bananas slipped into fifth place at 4-2.

The Staks didn’t score the only sweep of the night as the Small Hustlers tallied a three-set win over …But We Don’t Swallow by bullying the bujeezes out of them to the tune of a 33-7 beachside ballyhoo.

Captain Hank Magofña and Benny Mettao wasted no time in delivering the beating to the non-swallowers, as they dealt their opponents an 11-2 beat down in the first, clinched the game with an 11-3 second, and followed with an 11-2 third to win their 12th set of the season.

The Small Hustlers dealt themselves into sixth place and a 4-3 record with win, while the lovable losers fell to 0-7. Rather than wallow in defeat, …But We Don’t Swallow rallied their clan to open up a couple of cans as they sat back and watched the other teams play.

While the Air Biscuits and Libweiirs!! sat idle on Tuesday night, Martin Castro and the Beach Side Rockers crept closer to the top spots in the standings when they took two of three from Ganbarimasho.

After edging the G-men in the first set 11-8, the Beach Side Rockers finished them off with an 11-4 crowning in the second. With the game already in hand, the Rockers surrendered the third set 11-8, but the win improved their record to 5-2, and within a half game of the Biscuits and Libweiirs!!, and a full game behind the L.L. Sleese Staks.

While the Rockers have a chance at the title, the Crashers and Smackers are busy wading through the waters of mediocrity.

The Crashers evened their record to 3-3 by taking the first two sets by a convincing 11-5 and 11-6, before losing out in the final 11-3, while the Smackers suffered their fourth loss of the season against three wins to fall into eighth place in the 11 team league.