Tinian, Rota lasses rack up wins in girls HS v-ball

During the two-day stint when Tinian and Rota high school girls’ teams made their way to Saipan to play in the NMIVA-PSS Interscholastic Girls High School Volleyball League 2023-2024, they put their short trip to good use as they won some of their games against Saipan’s high school teams.

Tinian High School’s varsity team galloped to four victories from last Friday to last Saturday at the Marianas High School Gymnasium.

They first won against Kagman High School, 25-19, then bested MHS, 28-26, last Friday. Last Saturday, they heavily defeated Saipan International School, 25-15, and beat Mount Carmel School, 25-20.

As for their losses, they lost to Grace Christian Academy, 13-25; lost a close one to Saipan Southern High School, 24-26; and fought to the end against Agape Christian School, 27-29.

THS’ junior varsity team fell short and lost all their matchups. They lost to KHS II, 19-25; fell to MHS III, 21-25; was overpowered by MHS II, 9-25; came up short against MCS II, 23-25; was defeated by SSHS II 16-26; was silenced by ACS II, 9-25; and lost a close one to SIS II, 25-27.

On the other hand, Rota’s Dr. Rita H. Inos High School girls varsity team won just one game, while their junior varsity team bagged four wins.

The varsity Bucks’ one win was against SSHS, 25-23. They ended up losing to SIS, 17-25; 29-29 against MHS; 16-25 against KHS; 7-25 against ACS; 23-25 against SSHS; 27-25 against GCA; and 18-25 against MCS.

The JV Bucks first won against Mount Carmel School II, 25-17; they slipped past MHS III, 27-25; edged SIS II, 25-22; and overpowered SSHS II, 25-13.

Stallions’ head coach, Dionne Santos said this year’s level of competition is “definitely higher than it has been in previous years. I’ve been coaching for a long time and it just keeps leveling up every year.”

With Tinian and Rota teams only playing twice out of the whole season, Santos said “We always go into it blind. That’s one of the things we prepare for when it comes to practice is always just developing their skills and then when it comes to next season, we know who we’re up against. We just go back with that knowledge and try to pivot that around what we need to do.”

THS varsity team includes Abbygaile Ong, Karisse Ong, Clarize Rodriguez, Bernadette Fleming, Yeong Chae Yoon, Julia Medicielo, Dennise Miguel, Rchie Lagunay, Mary Gomez, Kyra Adriano, Sophia Su, and Jazmine Furton.

Their JV team consists of Carrika San Nicolas, Xing Yi Lin, Quinani Cruz, Keyanie Arriola, Mary Grace Calacsan, Draeshia Manglona, Becky Reyes, Katie Dela Cruz, Serenity Guzman, Journey Reyes, Ysabella Lenteja, and Janna Mapeso.

The Bucks, coached by Deseriee Pendergrass, for their part said, “Staying on Rota, we’re very limited but our girls are fighting really hard. They work really hard. It’s a very new experience for them with a big crowd and in an actual gym, so they’re doing really, really well.”

With no indoor facility to practice in back home, they still try to get as much practice as they can despite the rainy season. But, Pendergrass said, her girls are “resilient, they work hard, and we try to model teamwork.”

The Bucks’ varsity team is made up of Wynette Ogo, Brynn Atalig, Ellie Ogo, Kaypeonie Mendiola, Denicia Lizama, Kahra Songsong, Abcde Hocog, and Fervelyn Luis.

The Bucks’ junior varsity team includes Sophia Songsong, Tolia Quitugua, Fervelyn Luis, Niana Barcinas, Abcde Hocog, Dariann Lizama, Resolanda Patricio, Kaypeonie Mendiola, Wynette Ogo, Denicia Lizama, and Brynn Atalig.

In last Thursday’s games, ACS II won over SSHS II, 21-15, 21-15; MHS II powered past KHS II, 21-15, 21-10; MCS won against SSHS, 21-19, 21-12; MHS III beat MCS II, 21-15, 21-10; GCA trounced SIS, 21-19, 21-11; and MHS beat KHS, 21-13, 21-9.