Strong finish for GCA, ACS, SIS, MCS

Grace Christian Academy Lady Eagles, Agape Christian School Torchbearers, Saipan International School Lady Geckos, and Mount Carmel School Knights finished the NMIVA-PSS Interscholastic Girls High School Volleyball League 2024-2025 season strong with a win each in the last day of regular season games last Tuesday at the Marianas High School Gymnasium.

The Lady Eagles won over Saipan Southern High School Lady Manta Rays in two sets, 21-8, 21-15, for their fourth win of the season.

The rotation of Mariana Angeles, Beatrice Fabre, Sofia Gomez, Eunji Hahn, Sarang Kim, Tae Hee Kim, L.J. Libut, Alyssa Omampo, Eliane Pagaduan, Eunice Pagaduan, Joaenella Yarofalir, and Dianna Zheng kept the Lady Rays on their toes the whole time.

The first set went as swiftly as it started with back-to-back points by the Lady Eagles. The Lady Rays could not get their footing right and errors left and right allowed the Lady Eagles to capitalize and hold a big lead early.

Eliane Pagaduan led the way at the net with strong kills to make it 16-6. The Lady Rays managed to sneak in a point in there to make it 16-7, but after a hot streak of great serves by Omampo and a well-placed kill at the net by Tae Hee Kim, they took the first set, 21-8.

The Lady Rays tried to come back and for a tie-breaking third set, but just fell short. They paced the Lady Eagles, 3-3, at the beginning of the second, then fell behind 8-11. However, it was still anybody’s game as Azriel Fatialofa put her height and strength to good use to convert kills to points. It was then 10-13 after Zoe Lee landed a kill of her own, then Fatialofa followed it up with another to make it 11-13.

GCA then committed some errors on their returns and soon, it was all knotted up, 14-14. SSHS tried to ride on their momentum, but GCA’s chemistry and better executed plays rooted them to just one more point. Sloppy plays became the downfall of SSHS and GCA wrapped up their last game of the season with a win through commanding kills at the net, 21-15.

In the north court, the battle between ACS and Kagman High School Lady Ayuyus waged on at the same time.

In that game, the Torchbearers secured their third win of the season in two sets, 21-19, 21-14.

The first set didn’t come easy for the Torchbearers though as the Lady Ayuyus gave them a run for their money.

When the Torchbearers thought they could put the first set away, KHS kept pace and were tied at some points toward the end. They landed good returns and caused some ACS errors, but ACS was persistent and would constantly land a point. They would have a 1-point advantage, 18-17, 19-18, until they pulled away and left KHS at 19 points.

The last set was much easier for ACS to traverse as KHS’ defenses and returns faltered.

In the first two games of the night, both went into three sets as all teams wanted to wrap up the season with a win.

MCS II first beat MHS III, 17-21, 21-11, 18-16. Then, SIS took down the Lady Dolphins, 17-21, 21-12, 15-6.

In the final standings, MHS and GCA are tied at four wins and two losses apiece; ACS, MCS, and SIS are at the middle of the pack with a 3-3 record each; while KHS and SSHS are at 2-4 each.

The championship series is set for Oct. 23-25.