Berline, Matson rule grass v’ball tourney

The pair of Bruce Berline and Melody Matson needed extra points to pull off a 24-22 win over the tandem of Mili Saiki and Russ Quinn in the championship match in the 2nd Annual Reverse Co-ed Grass Volleyball Tournament Saturday at Navy Hill’s baseball field.

It was a come-from-behind win for Berline and Matson, who were down as much as five points, 3-8, in the finals. The pair of Saiki and Quinn took early control of the championship game with the former making a couple of good ball placements at the backline and the latter connecting on several jump serves.

Saiki and Quinn even moved a point away from winning the match and forcing a deciding second set when they took a 20-19 lead.

But Berline and Matson worked their way back to the game with the former diving for low balls and Matson scoring a few points on the net.

Matson and Berline had a twice-to-beat advantage in the finals after winning two matches in the playoffs. But the duo needed only extra minutes in Game 1 not another match to wrap up the tournament and take the title.

Sixteen pairs joined the second grass court co-ed tournament, which was different from other 2-person volleyball event as it was played on a female’s height net and male participants cannot spike the ball inside the 10-foot line.

Teams were divided into four pools with each pool playing in a round-robin format. The top two teams then advanced to the winners’ group in the playoffs, while the last two dropped to the losers’ bracket and must not lose again to avoid elimination.

After lunch break, eight teams were left standing. Joining the tandems of Berline-Matson and Saiki-Quinn on the group were the duos of Angie-Tyce Mister, Jeff Elliot-Louise Oakley, Laurie Peterka-Randy Steele, Rob Epley-Melissa Halaby, Dale Roberts-Heather Kennedy, and Linda Anastacio-Mark McDonald.

Matson and Berline claimed the first finals ticket after beating Steele and Peterka, 15-12, and Quinn and Saiki, 15-13.

The pairs of Quinn/Saiki and Steele/Peterka dropped to the losers’ bracket and downed separates foes to set up their duel for the second finals ticket.

Quinn and Saiki prevailed in the rubbermatch, 15-13. Steele, who was the inaugural grass court champion last year teaming up with E.J. Lee, and Peterka settled for third place after beating Roberts and Kennedy, 15-9.