ACS kickstarts MS v-ball with win

Last season’s runner-up Agape Christian School Torchbearers middle school boys volleyball team kickstarted the NMIVA-PSS Interscholastic Middle School Volleyball League 2023-2024 on a high note last Thursday at the Marianas High School Gymnasium.

They faced off against Francisco M. Sablan Middle School Napu Riders that went on to be a three-set nail-biter.

ACS, led by main hitter Daniel Yang, ambushed the Napu Riders early on for a swift first set win, 21-16.

However, when ACS thought they had the game in the bag, FMS attacked back with a flurry of kills by Jairoh Guilas and Jairus Pangilinan in the second set for a close 21-19 win and forced a tie-breaking third.

It was a back-and-forth of points for both teams in the final set, with none ever too far in the lead, but ACS ebbed and flowed like one unit as the Napu Riders carried on with their second set momentum. ACS then hit a sweet spot in their game and took it all the way home before FMS could regroup, 15-11.

The ACS team with Yang includes Raffy Cai, Danny Cheng, Reyviel Escarlan, Joseph Yang, Benny Li, Daniel Huang, Scott Shi, Benjamin Cai, and Andy Chen.

FMS was made up of Guilas, Pangilinan, Michael Elayda, Kyle Tabenas, Xiaolin Guo, Sean Morilla, Frank Lumanlan, and Keith Agulto.

In other results, Chacha Ocean View Middle School II danced their way to a win against Dandan Middle School II, 21-12, 21-15; FMS II fought hard against Saipan International School II and won in three sets, 18-21, 21-12, 15-9; Tanapag Middle School II swam past Hopwood Middle School II, 21-12, 21-14; DMS beat COVMS, 21-15, 21-13; and HMS edged Saipan Community School, 22-20; 21-15.