WPS Terns beat MCS Knights in COPSSA

Whispering Palms continued with its impressive showing even as Grace Christian played solid games and remained undefeated in the ongoing 2008 Coalition of Private Schools Sports Association Volleyball League.

The two teams outsmarted their respective rivals yesterday and a championship duel is brewing in the junior varsity division as the double round-robin elimination stage near its end.

The WPS Terns fended off spirited rallies by the Mount Carmel Knights at home and won in straight sets, 25-16, 25-21, for their seventh win in eight outings.

On the other hand, the GCA Eagles streaked to their ninth win in as many games by scoring yet another easy 25-13, 25-18 win over Saipan International-Green.

The Terns and the Eagles will meet for the second time this season tomorrow, Oct. 9, at the WPS hard court.

This could be a preview of the championship game, barring any major disaster for the two teams going into the playoff round. There are five more playing dates left in the eliminations.

The Terns suffered their lone defeat to the Eagles in their first meeting last Sept. 16.

“We will win all our next games,” that’s all WPS coach Mark McDonald had to say at this point.

For MCS coach Tony Rogolifoi, the Knights still have a chance to recover.

He said the team needs to focus on their goal and that is to be part of the Top 4 after the elimination round.

“My players need more drills and be serious in practice. They lack the fundamentals and teamwork. They are still trying to blend together as a team. Well, they have just started playing together,” he said.

Still, he commended his players’ current standing. The Knights carry a 4-5 win-loss card.

WPS drew big support from Reina Klaver, Christian Miller Joon Ko, Phalai Frink, and Ilia Corella.

The Terns established a commanding 21-10 lead in the opening set.

Although the Knights staged a comeback via a 5-1 run and moved to within a 15-22 score, the Terns quickly got back to their game.

In the second set, the lanky Miller scored five service winners and a spike by Joon Ko allowed the Terns to race to a 6-0 lead.

That lead ballooned to 11-3 with Joon’s stronger serves and good cover and saves by Klaver.

As McDonald shuffled his players, putting Joon’s brother Jay and a couple of second stringers, the Terns nearly blew up a 19-12 advantage.

MCS big man Garry Santos and Kimberly Sablan went on to score on service winners as the Knights rallied with a 8-1 run to tie the score at 20-all and put the pressure on the Terns.

This caused McDonald to call a timeout and bring back Joon to the game to break the Knights’ momentum.

It clicked for the Terns, with Joon issuing two crucial returns, a service winner from Corella, a spike from Klaver and a service winner from Joon for the win.