Rookies and veterans rule at PIC

Ten evenly matched teams went hand to hand in the sand on Thursday night at the Pacific Islands Club to kickoff the 7th Annual Miller Lite Coed Four-Person Beach Volleyball League, as a mixture of top quality spikers and leisurely leapers got their first taste of beach volleyball in the fall.

Last year featured a talented team from Marianas High School, and while the Dolphins returned under the watchful eye of coach Tyce Mister, they took one on the bottle nose to Theo Wong and the Hot Myx.

Led by first overall draft pick Nan Intharaluk, the Myx got to work early on the scholastic spikers with an 11-0 white wash in the first set before sealing the victory with an 11-3 follow-up set.

The Hot Myx looks to be one of the top team with Intharaluk, Sia Maui Dela Cruz, Apple Sampson, Gordon Odeshi, Prichard Tudong, and power slammer Marconi Calindas on the court, but they dropped the third set to MHS 5-11. While it might not have seemed as meaningful at the time, the folly could follow them to the end-of-year rankings and could bump them out of the playoffs.

With the win, Hot Myx joined Palaksi in first as the “P-men” schooled the Eagles of Grace Christian Academy in sweeping fashion, 11-0, 11-2, 12-10. Rannel Calexterio and Jazz Roskow could be a potent one-two punch as the year goes on, and Aleta Glaze will be one of assets as well. After coaching her team in the Island-Wide Indoor Volleyball League, Glaze and Rika Matsumoto took to the sand on the other side of the net to face the Eagles, and their abilities were a welcome sight to teammates Dennis Tababa and future star Stephanie Mortensen.

In the third game of the night, Jon Cramer of Got Beer? suffered an agonizing defeat to Rachel Bandelin and Lick It, Stick It, Smack It in their opener, but the sage of the stage said that the season is young and that they will rebound from the 11-2, 11-9, 11-8 sweep next week.

Bandelin captained her team though its first voyage from the sidelines through the first two sets in an effort to encourage her fellow players with words of wisdom. She got in there to help the team take the final set, but before entering the game said that it was completely by design.

“I call it like it is. I am new to the sport but I am encouraging my team at this point. They are very successful. They won the first game, and the second game is very close—they’re neck and neck, but I feel good and I hope I don’t have to play,” she laughed.

After Nick Gross, Nick Castro, Nicky Shyrack, and Dan Westphal won the clincher, she entered the game with a mixture of emotions, but said that she was having a great time.

“It’s a rollercoaster. I’m excited, I’m ‘ooh’ and on the edge, I’m disappointed sometimes. It’s honest, it’s real, it’s from the heart,” she said.

The Sugoi Seven had their hearts ripped out in the following match as they let a 9-1 lead slip away in the second set to drop their opener against dominating Dustin Rhode and Aschaabw.

After cruising to an easy 11-0 win in the first set, Aschaabw found themselves on the hurting end of the whooping stick, but Rhode has the presence of mind to call a timeout to rally the troops.

With a new set of wind in their sails, Rhode and Hammerin’ Hank Magofña pulled off the unthinkable by scoring 10 unanswered points to stun the Seven. Rather than wallow in their woes, Catherine Perino inspired Steve Nguyen, Noke Rogopes, and Julie Schimpf to take the third set, 11-6.

You’re My Boy Blue! rallied from a 1-0 set deficit to take the next two by silencing America F@&# Yeah! 11-7, 11-9 in the final match of the night as Dale Roberts, Beny Mettao, Paul Gauci, Mieko Motoyoshi, and Mark and Cathy Toves went old school.

The action continues on Tuesday, Oct. 4, at 5:30pm when Saipan International School takes the court for the first time led by 2005 Mini Games veteran Mili Saiki.