By Robert Balajadia

POHNPEI – The men’s volleyball team got a crack at the host team Pohnpei in the first event of the day while Guam’s baseball team rebounded from their surprise loss to Kosrae, holding off the host Pohnpei team 3-1.

Men’s Volleyball Sweeps Pohnpei

Each set presented different challenges for Team Guam having trailed for the first few points in each set. Guam managed to settle in midway through and finish strong beating the home-team Pohnpei in three sets 25-22, 25-17, 25-18.

Team Captain PJ Quntanilla took control of the game nailing big time kills in each set which gave Guam the necessary nudge they needed to pull away from Pohnpei.

Derrick Wahl played a big factor early in the sets scoring three of Guam’s first five points in the first set and two of the five points in the final set.

Derrick Wahl gets Guam going in the final set getting the teams first points off a kill. (photo by Joey Blas)

Midway through the first set Pohnpei grabbed a vicious kill from June Hadley to go up 12-10 forcing head coach Mike Robago to call a timeout to inspire the guys to lay down for vicious hits to shake up the back line of Pohnpei.

Quintanilla and Wahl responded hammering down a pair of kills to tie the game at 14 until Hadley got loose for another of his four kills in the first set to put the home team up 16-14.

Quintanilla was at the helm serving and the Guam managed to tie the game at 17 and Guam grabbed their first lead after setter Robert Borden and Anthony Crisostomo went two hands blocking Hadley’s kill attempt giving Guam the 19-18 lead, their first of the game.

Leading 23-20, Quintanilla went over two blockers for a bone crunching kill to get Guam’s 24th point  where Wahl managed to grab the set winning kill.

Guam trailed 7-4 in the second set, but a mid-set rally aided by TJ Balajadia and Quintanilla gave Guam a 17-13 lead after another kill by Quintanilla while the men were able to win the set 25-17. Setter Robert Borden got the Guam crowd going after slamming down a kill that no one saw coming, the setters first kill of the game.

Pohnpei had trouble late in the third set with serving giving the ball right back to Guam after three straight serve errors. Allander Ebio and Kevin Perez came in late in the set and provided big blocks up the middle to help Guam finish off the set and game getting the 25-18 win.

Guahan Soldier player of the game PJ Quintanilla with big time plays in all three sets.

Baseball Rebounds with win over Pohnpei

Guam’s baseball team were eager to get their 9 am game against Pohnpei going and it showed early as the guys jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning. A rain delay in the bottom of the second inning delayed action for a bit before action resumed. Guam went 0n to pick a big 3-1 win over the host team – much needed after dropping a 7-4 loss to Kosrae in its first game on Monday.

Team Guam waits out the rain in the bottom of the 2nd inning. (photo by Joey Blas)

PHOTO GALLERY:

Guam’s TJ Balajadia grabs a midgame kill against Pohnpei. (photo by Joey Blas)

Other members of Team Guam came to support the Men’s Volleyball team in their game against Pohnpei. (photo by Joey Blas)