LL Sleese Staks take title

The L. L. Sleese Staks completed what they started in the beginning of May by surviving the Smackers in the season finale to earn the title of champion of the 6th Annual Coors Light Four-Person Beach Volleyball League at the Pacific Islands Club.

The L.L. Sleese picked up their ninth win of the season by notching their 24th set in the left side of the win-loss column and fell just two points shy of the Libweiirs!! (302) for the league’s top scoring team.

The total package squad also limited their opponents with a stifling defense that allowed the fewest points against with 174, and while they only needed to take one set in the finals against the Smackers, the L.L. Sleese Staks won their ninth game on Thursday night in front of a crowd of friends and fans in the night’s closest match.

After taking the first set by storm, Randy Steele, Laurie Peterka, Chris Nelson, and Dan Westphal suffered a setback to their sweeping dreams when Mark McDonald and the Smackers backhanded their brothers in the sand with a game tying 11-9 win in the second.

With the set count knotted at one apiece, the teams took the court for the final round of hand-to-hand in the sand. The Staks were well on their way to a win before the Smackers tied the game at eight, and the Staks were almost there with a two-point lead before the Smackers crept back into the game. A controversial call by the umpire left at least half of the players unhappy, but the Smackers regained the Mikasa and tied the game at 10 before the L.L. Sleese Staks closed out the season with a 12-10 win in the clincher.

Team captain Peterka explained the formula to her team’s championship run was a mix of energy and experience, and a good chemistry among the players.

“We had a bunch of old school volleyball players who knew how to play together and the youth of Melissa (Halaby). We’ve got AVP experience from Randy (Steele), Dan (Westphal) is a great all-around player, Chris (Nelson) is an athletic big hitter, Kevin (Carey) is a lot of fun, and Melissa (Halaby) is an up-and-coming player.”

Dan “Barno” Westphal made play after play for the Staks in the finals from all over the court—something league coordinator Jon Cramer recognized when he started chanting “MVP” midway through the third set. The rest of the team captains agreed with Cramer as they made it official by voting Westphal as the league’s most valuable player.

Following the match, birthday girl Peterka shared her feelings on Westphal’s MVP qualities.

“He has a great attitude, is easy going, strong at the net, and is a big hitter. Once he has his motor running he’s unstoppable,” said Peterka.

In the only other match of the night, Yacchatta!! notched their fourth win to finish the season in seventh place of the 11-team league by pulling off the upset over the silent but deadly Air Biscuits.

With injured captain Kimiko Hasegawa cheering on the sidelines, Tyce Mister and Faheem Ebrahim supplied a one-two punch that dissipated the Air Biscuits air of invincibility in the first set, 11-4.

The improved play of Cathy Ton provided Yacchatta!! with a consistent hitter from the back court, and the Tyce-Faheem Dream Team clinched the win with an 11-7 score in the second set.

After playing a strong team game over the course of seven weeks, the Air Biscuits refused to lose their final set of the season and dusted Yacchatta!!, 11-2.

Were it not for the second consecutive forfeit by Monkeys and Bananas, the Crashers would have been able to play their last game, but they earned a win despite being all dressed up with no where to go.