By Robert Balajadia
The IIAAG boys volleyball season is well over, but the weekends volleyball action has just begun with the U19 boys volleyball tourney kicking off the near-summer weekend. The IIAAG’s top teams welcomed visiting teams from the CNMI and Yap for the first pair of games.
The tournament is a two-day pool play style with the Saturday being the playoffs and championship game.
Eagles Fly Over CNMI
The Harvest Eagles were the first to play at 4 pm, welcoming the CNMI team to a two-set, first to 21 game. The Eagles win the contest 21-5, 21-14, getting a much stronger showing from Guam’s neighbouring sportsmen in the second set.
Eagles setter Marlon Evans was key in both sets setting up big-time hitters Isaiah Lagutang and Kobe Sotelo. Defensive specialist Misaki Cramer ate up the entire backline, giving the team CNMI hitters trouble locating a weak spot.
CNMI tried to rally behind hitter Andrew Johnson and Karlo De Leon, but the Eagle blockers didn’t let much get by them with CNMI scoring six points off Eagle errors.
Bulldogs Split With Yap
The reigning two-time champion Bulldogs are an early favourite to win the entire tournament, but the home team got a good showing from Yap in the second set. The Bulldogs took the first set 21-14 and Yap won the second set 21-20.
Okkodo came out flying in the opening set as Brian Crowe and Gary Aromin met the taller Yap hitters in the middle of the net.
The Bulldogs started to work in bench players during the second set, but the Yap kept it close tying the game at 10 with a kill from Alben Tithred. Aromin got a block to take an 18-17 lead but errors did them in.
Other Scores
GW def. JFK 21-16, 21-13
Okkodo def. CNMI 21-11, 21-10
GW def. Yap 21-14, 21-14
Harvest def. JFK 21-16, 21-5
Okkodo splits GW 21-16, 21-19
PHOTO GALLERY:
Bulldogs Gary Aromin flies in for a kill through the two Yap blockers. (photo by Robert Balajadia)
(photo by Robert Balajadia)
CNMI’s Karlo De Leon readies a serve in the second set against the Eagles. (photo by Robert Balajadia)
Bulldog Brian Crowe gets up and over for a kill. (photo by Robert Balajadia)
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QUICK HITS
Matsuno’s second place finish earned him an invitation to compete in the FCG Junior Golf Championship to be held in July 2025.
A junior at St. John’s, he is also currently leading the IIAAG high school All-Island golf competition, chasing the coveted individual high school golf title.
