As the two teams entered courtside and prepared to do battle, it was almost as though a hush fell over the crowd of onlookers.  For some strange reason this match appeared to be different from previous match play.  Both teams were quiet and somewhat subdued.  Concentration levels were at an all time high and so too was the stakes.  Only one team could advance to the next round of competition.

          Quarterfinal Competition.  High-flying Chris Owen of “The Bad Boys” spikes the ball as the “The Red Devils”, in the near court, prepare to defend.

The Red Devils cruised to an early lead by winning the 2 opening games.  Julian Thomas, Team Captain for The Bad Boy’s, began substituting his players in and out of Game 3.  And it worked too as they bounced back to take the game with ease.  Trailing 2 games to 1, The Bad Boy’s needed to take Game 4 in order to extend the match to a fifth and final game.  However, the Team Captain for the Red Devils, Garreth Benjamin, had other plans.  He returned to his original lineup and together they managed to hold the lead throughout the game.   

Final Score:  The Red Devils  15-9, 15-3, 6-15, and 15-7.

***

Tuesdays second quarterfinal match pitted “Side Out” against The Master Blaster’s.  Both teams entered the court undefeated.  Who among you would have thought that this match would go the distance?  But that’s exactly what happened.  The two teams managed to split the first 2 games.  In Game 3, “Side Out” shot out to a 13-2 lead before Brian Davis, Team Captain for the Master Blaster’s called a timeout.  Icing their server worked.  When play resumed a side out was eventually awarded to the Master Blaster’s.  From that point onward they never looked back.  Scoring rallies of 6 to 7 points at a time and holding their opponent to just 1 point, they eventually tied the game at 14 apiece.

The Master Blaster’s shown here.  Back row (L to R):  John “Major” Lansberry, Robert McMahon, Robert Duncan, and Guy Barallon. 
Front row (L to R):  Cyril “Max” Johnson, Lloyd “Buzz” Boothroyd, and Brian Davis (Team Captain),

Both teams were tired as they headed into Game 5, but at this point the match was still up for grabs.  Cyril Johnson and Robert McMahon both managed to serve 5 and 6 points each as they came to the service line.  Team “Side Out” began to rally but it was too little, too late.  John Lansberry ended the match by serving the final 4 points.  To choose a single player as “Player of the Game” would be difficult and unfair to the others.  Honors though, would have to go to both Marty Joshua and Cyril Johnson equally.  These two players gave 200 percent throughout the entire match.  They never let up!  And their serving percentages were near perfect.

Final Score:  Master Blaster’s  12-15, 15-13, 16-14, 7-15, and 15-4.

Randy Wright (GPS) monitors the action below as “Side Out” goes head to head with the Master Blaster’s in Tuesday night’s quarterfinal match.  In the near court, Marty Joshua sets David Beard, while Robert Duncan readies himself on defense.

***

Tempers flared and tensions were at an all time high as The High Flyer’s faced off against ‘B’ Shift during Thursday night’s match play.  Pulling to an early 2-0 game lead, the High Flyer’s literally pulled ‘B’ Shift apart at the seams.  At this point in the match it appeared certain doom for the men of the fire department team.

The High Flyer’s.  Back row (L to R): Andrew “Rocky” Osborne, Jermaine “Searcy” O’Connor, Jason “Gustus” Augustus, and Ashley Fowler (Team Captain). 
Front row (L to R):  Martin “Moodis” Bagley, Steve “The Roach” Caswell, Adrian “Sleepie” Sim, and Cyril “Brick Dust” Thomas.

Both teams at the end of Game 2 took a short time out and a water break.  I’m not certain what Shaun Jonas, Team Captain for ‘B’ Shift, told his players, but whatever it was, it worked.  It was almost as though a whole new team had reentered the court.  They somehow managed to pull themselves together and they appeared motivated and refreshed.  In no time ‘B’ Shift found their rhythm and began ripping apart The High Flyer’s defense.  With almost identical scores, ‘B’ Shift tied the match at 2 games apiece.

Losing 2 games in a row and now trailing in Game 5 was more than The High Flyer’s could handle.  The men from ‘B’ Shift began an unstoppable rally and scored 8 unanswered points to take an early lead.  Later in the game, with the score now showing 13-3, it was only a matter of time before ‘B’ Shift would end the game and win the match.  

Final Score:  ‘B’ Shift 10-15, 4-15, 15-11, 15-10, and 15-3.  

The team from ‘B’ Shift.  Back row (L to R):  Shannon “Long Dog” Andrews, Paul “Kelly” Thomas, and Martin “Chunky” Phillips. 
Front row (L to R):  Robert Glanville, Lucien Phillips, and Shaun “Bubba” Jonas (Team Captain).

***

This tournament began with eight teams.  But after Thursday night’s match play only six teams remain, of which only two teams are still undefeated.  The competition in the quarterfinal rounds has definitely heated up.  As we enter our third week of tournament play, we’ll see The High Flyer’s match up against The Spiker’s on Monday.  Wednesday’s featured match pairs off “Side Out” with The Red Devils.   And Friday’s match play has ‘B’ Shift meeting head to head with the Master Blaster’s.

Early action from Game 1.  Shown here, Ashley Fowler attempts to set the ball to teammate, Martin Bagley, as all five players for ‘B’ Shift shuffle into defensive positions.   ‘B’ Shift eventually settled the match in Game 5.

Updated copies of the Tournament schedule are posted daily at the Volleyball Court and in the CSR Dining Hall.  Additional news, highlights, and photographs will be available next week as the tournament schedule continues.

Story by: Brian Davis                Photographs by:  Joseph Walls

CSR 6310, Fire/Security           CSR 6300, Air Traffic Control