Six-man volleyball returns with vengeance

A larger crowd than the one that gathered for the season opener was on hand at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium Wednesday night to witness the second week of matches in the 2004-2005 Island Wide Men’s and Women’s Volleyball League.

The sounds of bumps, sets, spikes, shouts, and whistles echoed off the walls of the community complex as six teams welcomed the return of the sport to the neutral, rubberized surface of the Oleai facility.

The women got things underway when Bootylicious and the Hitters squared off on the south court alongside of the men’s match on the north court.

Led by Benny Mettao, Bootylicious edged a determined Hitters squad in the first set, to get the 26-24 win. Mettao recorded an ace and a kill to set the tone for the best-of-three match.

Bootylicious kept the rump-a-shakin’ as they took the pressure as well, but the Hitters put up just as much of a fight in the 25-22 clincher. Dorris Rangamar came up big for the killer Bs, serving up five aces to silence the Hitters.

During the action of the women’s match, the men took the court in a battle between the NMC Proa and the Monarchs. Spectators were cheering on all of the high-flying, high-powered action in the first set as David Tisa and Proa eked out a narrow 25-20 win.

The second set was not as close, as Marino Piungiulug racked up a pair of kills to lead the Proa to a 25-14 crowning of the Monarchs and their first victory of the season.

The late games began when the Chuukanos and the Managaha Chiefs served up a thriller on the men’s side and the lady Dragons took on the Haz Been’s .

The Chuukanos and the Chiefs were engaged in a tight match up right from the start, but the Chiefs managed to squeak by the Chuukanos in the first set, 25-22.

The Chuukanos didn’t fade away in the second set, but the 23 points that they scored were not enough to beat Jerry Smith and Jazz Roscal. Alision Ada served up the final ball for the Managaha Chiefs as they took the game by a 25-23 score.

The women provided plenty of excitement on the south court as well, as the Dragons took a pair of sets from the Haz Been to earn their first win of the season. The first of which came off of a 25-20 Dragon advantage that had the leaping lizards recording three kills and an ace.

The second set was not as close on the scoreboard, but you couldn’t tell that to the Haz Been team. The ladies never quit, but Andrea “the Annihilator” struck with three kills and an ace for the Dragons, while Erika “the Haz Been eater” Komatsu recorded a pair of Ks as well in the 25-16 clincher.

All of the indoor action returns to the Ada Gym tonight at 6:30pm when the 2004-2005 Island Wide Men’s and Women’s Volleyball League continues its search for possible players for the 2006 Micronesian Games in Chuuk.

If you are interested in further information, contact either Joe Lizama or Joe Mettao by calling 664-2503 or 664-2508.