{"id":337219,"date":"2021-01-25T06:06:57","date_gmt":"2021-01-24T20:06:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/?p=337219"},"modified":"2021-01-25T06:06:57","modified_gmt":"2021-01-24T20:06:57","slug":"theyre-back","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/theyre-back\/","title":{"rendered":"They\u2019re back"},"content":{"rendered":"
A Marianas High School 3 player makes a return to MHS 4 during their game in the 2020-2021 Public School System Interscholastic 4v4 Beach Volleyball League last Saturday at the Fiesta Resort & Spa Saipan sand courts. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The frequent high-fives, the beaming smiles, the relentless hustle plays, and loud call for the ball\u2014all indicated how much students missed interscholastic competitions.<\/p>\n

After majority of school tournaments last year were abruptly canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, CNMI students welcomed with open arms the resumption of competition among their peers with the 2020-2021 Public School System Interscholastic 4v4 Beach Volleyball League kicking off last Saturday at the Fiesta Resort & Spa Saipan sand courts.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt feels good to be back. Kind of nostalgic even though we are playing on a different field,\u201d said Grace Christian Academy player Katriel Saures.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe last time we played volleyball was in an indoor court at the Marianas High School Gymnasium in October 2019 and then COVID came in 2020 and everything changed. The past several months were very challenging for us students who are used to going out, getting involved in academics and sports activities,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n

Grace Christian Academy 2\u2019s Hye Jin Elliot receives a shot from MHS 1. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Saures plays for GCA 2, which debuted in last weekend\u2019s event against MHS 1. She was also part of the GCA squad that won the indoor championship in the 2019-2020 season against Saipan International School. Eight other squads are competing in this year\u2019s interscholastic beach volleyball tournament for girls high school, while the boys division has more teams with 11.<\/p>\n

Cesar Libut coaches both GCA 1 and 2 and though he admits it will be tougher winning the championship this year after having dominated the girls indoor volleyball for the last three seasons, he is just thankful for the opportunity to get back into play.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is right next to normal. Our students are given the opportunity to go out and play again as a team. It\u2019s going to be a big adjustment because this is a sand court, but regardless, it is really just great to see kids having a good time playing the sport they love again after a very long break,\u201d Libut said.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, Katrina Costales of MHS 3 said it\u2019s a relief to finally do something together away from their computers.<\/p>\n

A Mt. Carmel School 1 player, right, gets ready for a return down the net, while a Marianas High School 4 player waits for the ball to drop during their game in the 2020-2021 Public School System Interscholastic 4v4 Beach Volleyball League last Saturday at the Fiesta Resort & Spa Saipan sand courts. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cWhen COVID came, we\u2019re mostly online doing school stuff. Now, it\u2019s nice to be with our teammates, playing together outside,\u201d the MHS senior said.<\/p>\n

PSS Student Support Services Athletic Program director Nick Gross was present in last weekend\u2019s kick-off and hopes that the beach volleyball competition will be the start of brighter things to come for interscholastic sports in the CNMI this year.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are darn excited to have this six-week adventure. The kids are starving for interscholastic sports competition,\u201d said Gross, who had a test-run for school tournaments when he worked with Northern Marianas Athletics in holding a cross country season late last year.<\/p>\n

Gross thanked PSS and the Governor\u2019s COVID-19 Task Force for allowing them to hold the competition. He also acknowledged the Fiesta Resort & Spa Saipan management for providing a venue for the games and the MHS JRTOC for their logistic support.<\/p>\n

\u201cEveryone is pitching in to see our youth get back into sports safely,\u201d Gross said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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