Ascension : Volleyball Tournament News and Highlights - The Quarterfinal’s Continue
Submitted by The Islander (Gavin Yon) 10.03.2004 (Article Archived on 31.03.2004)
As quarterfinal competition continues this week, we see the race for the championship beginning to step up a notch or two.
As quarterfinal competition continues this week, we see the race for the championship beginning to step up a notch or two. Match play at this level of the competition is intense and the action is hard hitting and fast paced. Monday afternoons elimination match featured both The High Flyer’s and The Spiker’s. In the end though, The High Flyer’s had their wings clipped. They’ve been “grounded” for the remainder of the tournament.
Ashley Fowler (Team Captain) shows how the team got its name as he sores above all of the other players on his way to spiking the ball. Making his umpire debut and keeping a watchful eye on the action below is Cyril “Max” Johnson.
The Spiker’s won the traditional coin toss at the beginning of the match and elected to receive rather than to serve in the opening game. The action in the first two games was fast and furious. Both teams were determined not to lose, and both teams exuberated a high level of energy as the ball flew over the net time and time again. With identical scores, they entered Game 3 tied at 1 game apiece. When the two teams returned to the court for the start of Game 3 it was apparent to
The Spiker’s prior to their quarterfinal match. Back row (L to R): Marty Bates, Malcolm Greentree, and Troy Bennett.
Front row (L to R): Melvyn Moyce, Zack “Attack” Conde, and Randy Flowers (Team Captain).
many of us that someone was missing from The High Flyer’s rotation. Unfortunately for the spectators and players alike, Ashley Fowler, had pulled a back muscle and was out of action. He would never return to the court, however, he still managed to coach his team from the sidelines throughout the remainder of the match.
As the final scores indicate, Game 3 was probably the hardest fought game of this entire match. Neither team could muster up a significant rally against the other, and scoring points was difficult at best. As the game drug on though, The Spiker’s managed a 4-point lead, which they never relinquished. Game 4 was a total wash. Marty Bates came to the serving line and single-handedly scored 10unanswered points, 4 of them as service aces. It proved to be the “straw that broke the camels back” as The High Flyer’s never recovered. By the time the second server for The Spiker’s reached the serving line it was game point… it was match point. It was over in the blink of an eye. The Spiker’s had earned them a spot in the semi-final round.
Final Score: The Spiker’s 15-6, 6-15, 15-11, and 15-1.
Even as darkness settles on the court the quarterfinal action never ceases. In the near court, Randy Flowers, shown here, sets the ball to teammate Malcolm Greentree as The High Flyer’s anticipate a return.
***
The last of the quarterfinal matches was played on Wednesday afternoon and brought together “Side Out” and The Red Devils for their second meeting of the tournament. In their first meeting, “Side Out” scored a decisive victory over The Red Devils, but it took them all 5 games to win the match. Could they do it again or would the Red Devils get their sweet revenge?
Arriving at center court for The Red Devils and playing in his first game since the tournament began was fellow teammate, Robert Bedwell. Having a sixth player on the roster seemed to make a world of difference too as Team Captain, Garreth Benjamin, stayed courtside for a majority of the match.
The Red Devils. Back row (L to R): Colin Duncan, Alan “Sheep” Joshua, and Robert “Piggy” Williams. Front row (L to R): Adriaan Crowley and Garreth Benjamin (Team Captain). Not pictured is Robert Bedwell.
The final scores of the first 2 games do not do justice to the intensity of the action-taking place on the court. Both teams battled for each and every point. And they gave those of us who were lucky enough to be there quite a thrill. Although the match ended with The Red Devils making a clean sweep, Game 3 was still the best. It had it all; hard hitting, great bumps, awesome slams, and the dust flew for every point. Selecting a “Player of the Game” for this match was easy too. Honor’s go to Robert “Piggy” Williams. He may be big, but don’t let his size fool you. He can move about the court with the best of them! He can clear the net with ease. And he can also bump, set, dig, and slam the ball too.
Final Score: The Red Devils 15-7, 15-7, and 15-12.
The Red Devils, in the far court, seek revenge from “Side Out” during Wednesday afternoon’s quarterfinal match. Sitting atop his perch for the first time, and monitoring the action, we find Lloyd “Buzz” Boothroyd (GPS).
***
Semi-Final Match Play
The quarterfinal round is now officially in the history books and only four teams still remain active in the tournament. Leading into the finals, Friday afternoon’s match between ‘B’ Shift and the Master Blaster’s marked the first of three semi-final matches to be played. Both teams were undefeated as they stepped upon the sand, but as we know only one team could emerge victorious. With one of their key players, Guy Barallon, off-island until March 9, things weren’t looking very favorable for the Master Blaster’s.
They started the match as the Master Blaster’s but soon became known as the Master Disaster. The team self-destructed. They were out of sink and it was total chaos from the opening serve to the final match point. Not to take anything away from ‘B’ Shift, they recognized that something was amiss and they took full advantage of a golden opportunity. Spotting the weak points on their opponent’s team, they simply hit the ball to the open holes. It’s not as though the men of ‘B’ Shift are outstanding volleyball players. Individually they would be rated as fair to average players. But collectively, and through teamwork, they have proven to be unstoppable. Together they have found something that other teams don’t have.
Spectators like Eric Crowie (standing) come out for every match in support of their favorite team and to watch some quality volleyball competition.
Firemen are taught to use the buddy system, and to protect one another at all cost. ‘B’ Shift uses this same philosophy on the court too. They also possess another key ingredient that other teams don’t have, or fail to emphasis. They aren’t there just to have fun. They are there to win. And it’s that winning attitude that sets them apart. Just look back at their previous match against The High Flyer’s. Down 2-0 entering Game 3, they regrouped and won 3 straight games to take the match.
‘B’ Shift is on their way to the Finals. They are the first team to accomplish this, and they are the only undefeated team still remaining in the tournament. No matter what happens in the championship match, they have already proven to the rest of us that they are “winners” and that they deserve to be there. Good luck next Friday!
Final Score: ‘B’ Shift 15-4, 15-7, and 15-11.
Story by: Brian Davis Photographs by: Bob Merritt
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