The first game didn't go so well, so Warren Sixpak setter Mark Gacki thought it would be a good idea to change the lineup.
Sixpak won the Gold Division title in the Men's Sixes league on March 25, beating Ugly Ball 17-25, 25-20, 25-23, 17-25, 15-9. Team Beer won the Silver Division title, beating Kaboom, also in a 5-game marathon (20-25, 25-23, 25-19, 19-25, 15-11).
Sixpak switched left sides Glenn DeMagalhaes and Ziggy Goryn after losing the first game. Glen had 0 kills in the first game (he finished the match with 16), while Ziggy had just 4 of his match-high 25. Ziggy had 7 of his kills and Glenn had 5 in second-game victory that put Sixpak back in contention.
Middles Tom Burke had 16 kills and 2 blocks and Colin McNeill contributed 10 kills and 2 blocks for Sixpak. Adam Tett shared the setting duties in a 6-2 alignment with Gacki.
Adam Lewis led Ugly Ball, the fall season champions, with 16 kills and 2 blocks. Gary Curran had 11 kills, Jack Henriques added 9, and Rob Curran, Gregory Solovey, and Joe Saab each had 5 kills. Solovey also had 2 blocks. Greg Grande and Ilya Shchukin did the setting.
Sixpak almost didn't make it to the final, winning a best-of-three match in the semifinals over Fred's Retreads. They lost the first game 25-20, but won the second 28-26, and the third, 20-18. In that third game, Sixpak trailed 7-1 and 9-2 before coming back.
Ugly Ball beat Crush It, also in three games, in the semifinals. Crush It won the first game before Ugly Ball came back to win in three, with a 15-13 score in the third game.
Dan Barry, Dan Botzan, Chuck Roy, Glen Soria, Scott Fitzpatrick and Anthony Rosania played for Team Beer. They beat Western Penn in the semifinals. Kaboom beat Knuckle up in the semifinals.
The next men's sixes league will start April 15. There will be an open gym/pickup night for teams to add players on April 8.
Thursday, March 27, 2008
Friday, March 21, 2008
Injuries can't stop Touch It! Smackey
Two of their four players had injuries - Marcus Haynes with a dislocated thumb, and Sean Mackey with a broken finger - but that didn't keep Touch It! Smackey from capturing the Coed 4's League Gold Division championship with a 25-22, 29-31, 25-22, 25-21 victory over The McCreakersons on March 19.
Even with their painful digits, Marcus and Sean each had 6 blocks in the match. JJ O'Connell led Smackey with 23 kills and also had 4 blocks, an ace, and at least 8 digs (statman Fred does not claim to be able to keep track of all digs). Sean contributed 18 kills, 2 aces, and at least 5 digs, while Marcus had 21 kills, 2 aces, and at least 11 digs. Lynnette Chen did the setting and also had 2 kills, an ace, and at least 12 digs.
Smackey actually led Game 4 by 9 points, 23-14, but The McCreakersons battled back with key points coming on an ace by Jim Findura (23-16), and a pair of kills by Roman Bulowski (23-19 and 23-20).
But Sean registered his final kill to make the score 24-20, and after another kill by Roman, JJ finished the match with a spike down the line from the left side.
Roman led the McCreakersons with 23 kills, 3 blocks, an ace and at least 11 digs, while Tommy Narath contributed 17 kills, a block, 6 aces, and at least 6 digs. Jim Findura had 17 kills, 5 blocks (including 2 at the end of the Game 2 victory) an ace, and at least 6 digs. Ann Lee Yuan did the setting and also had a kill and at least 7 digs.
Some other highlights in the match included: JJ's block for the winning point in Smackey's Game 1 victory; A play early in Game 2 during which Tommy's shoe went flying off but McCreakersons still won the point (Roman later in the game reminded Tommy to "try to keep his shoes on''); a dig by Ann Lee that kept the rally alive before Jim's game-finishing block in Game 2; a long rally that included at least 3 digs - by Lynnette, Sean and Roman, before Tommy finally ended it with a kill that gave McCreakersons a 20-19 lead in Game 3; a dig/kill by Lynnette in Game 3 that gave Smackey a 23-21 lead; And a 4-dig rally (JJ, Marcus, and 2 by Roman) that was ended by a dink from Jim that left Marcus and Lynnette lying on the floor in Game 4. That point made Smackey's lead 22-14 and preceded the McCreakerson's big, but ultimately failed, comeback.
The next Coed 4's league will start April 9. There will be an open gym/pickup night for players seeking teams and teams seeking players on April 2. Contact Mark Thatcher (mthatcher@powerzonevb.com) for information.
Even with their painful digits, Marcus and Sean each had 6 blocks in the match. JJ O'Connell led Smackey with 23 kills and also had 4 blocks, an ace, and at least 8 digs (statman Fred does not claim to be able to keep track of all digs). Sean contributed 18 kills, 2 aces, and at least 5 digs, while Marcus had 21 kills, 2 aces, and at least 11 digs. Lynnette Chen did the setting and also had 2 kills, an ace, and at least 12 digs.
Smackey actually led Game 4 by 9 points, 23-14, but The McCreakersons battled back with key points coming on an ace by Jim Findura (23-16), and a pair of kills by Roman Bulowski (23-19 and 23-20).
But Sean registered his final kill to make the score 24-20, and after another kill by Roman, JJ finished the match with a spike down the line from the left side.
Roman led the McCreakersons with 23 kills, 3 blocks, an ace and at least 11 digs, while Tommy Narath contributed 17 kills, a block, 6 aces, and at least 6 digs. Jim Findura had 17 kills, 5 blocks (including 2 at the end of the Game 2 victory) an ace, and at least 6 digs. Ann Lee Yuan did the setting and also had a kill and at least 7 digs.
Some other highlights in the match included: JJ's block for the winning point in Smackey's Game 1 victory; A play early in Game 2 during which Tommy's shoe went flying off but McCreakersons still won the point (Roman later in the game reminded Tommy to "try to keep his shoes on''); a dig by Ann Lee that kept the rally alive before Jim's game-finishing block in Game 2; a long rally that included at least 3 digs - by Lynnette, Sean and Roman, before Tommy finally ended it with a kill that gave McCreakersons a 20-19 lead in Game 3; a dig/kill by Lynnette in Game 3 that gave Smackey a 23-21 lead; And a 4-dig rally (JJ, Marcus, and 2 by Roman) that was ended by a dink from Jim that left Marcus and Lynnette lying on the floor in Game 4. That point made Smackey's lead 22-14 and preceded the McCreakerson's big, but ultimately failed, comeback.
The next Coed 4's league will start April 9. There will be an open gym/pickup night for players seeking teams and teams seeking players on April 2. Contact Mark Thatcher (mthatcher@powerzonevb.com) for information.
Team Ultra captures Silver in 5
Team Ultra won the Silver Division final of the Coed 4's league on March 19, beating the Flying Squirrels 25-14, 25-20, 21-25, 24-26, 15-9.
"Papa'' Jim Elliott led Ultra in the deciding game with 5 of his 21 kills. Three of his kills came at the beginning of the game, helping Ultra jump to a 3-1 lead, and the final one provided the game-winning point. Elliott also had at least 13 digs (statman Fred is unable to keep track of all digs!) and an ace in the match.
Alex Desau led Ultra with 31 kills, including 8 each in games 1, 2 and 4. He also had 4 aces and at least 6 digs. Jeff Shirtz contributed 6 kills, 2 aces, 2 blocks, and at least 16 digs.
Edna Cetina did most of the setting for Ultra, and also had 5 kills and 2 aces.
Scott Shaw led the Squirrels with 23 kills, 2 aces, and at least 15 digs. Mark Menadier contributed 11 kills, 2 aces, and at least 16 digs, and Tom Koehler chipped in 4 kills, an ace and at least 9 digs. Melissa Eckhoff did the setting and also had a kill, 5 aces, and at least 3 digs.
Koehler provided a key play in the Squirrels' Game 3 win, registering an ace to give his team a 24-21 lead. Menadier then had a dig and kill to end the game for the Squirrels, which were the sixth seed in the playoffs but beat the No. 3 and 7 seeds to advance to the final. Cupsaw had knocked out the No. 2 seeds, the Purple Cobras, in the opening round of the playoffs.
The next coed 4's league will be held on Wednesday nights starting either April 9 or 16. Contact Mark Thatcher (mthatcher@powerzonevb.com) for information.
"Papa'' Jim Elliott led Ultra in the deciding game with 5 of his 21 kills. Three of his kills came at the beginning of the game, helping Ultra jump to a 3-1 lead, and the final one provided the game-winning point. Elliott also had at least 13 digs (statman Fred is unable to keep track of all digs!) and an ace in the match.
Alex Desau led Ultra with 31 kills, including 8 each in games 1, 2 and 4. He also had 4 aces and at least 6 digs. Jeff Shirtz contributed 6 kills, 2 aces, 2 blocks, and at least 16 digs.
Edna Cetina did most of the setting for Ultra, and also had 5 kills and 2 aces.
Scott Shaw led the Squirrels with 23 kills, 2 aces, and at least 15 digs. Mark Menadier contributed 11 kills, 2 aces, and at least 16 digs, and Tom Koehler chipped in 4 kills, an ace and at least 9 digs. Melissa Eckhoff did the setting and also had a kill, 5 aces, and at least 3 digs.
Koehler provided a key play in the Squirrels' Game 3 win, registering an ace to give his team a 24-21 lead. Menadier then had a dig and kill to end the game for the Squirrels, which were the sixth seed in the playoffs but beat the No. 3 and 7 seeds to advance to the final. Cupsaw had knocked out the No. 2 seeds, the Purple Cobras, in the opening round of the playoffs.
The next coed 4's league will be held on Wednesday nights starting either April 9 or 16. Contact Mark Thatcher (mthatcher@powerzonevb.com) for information.
Thursday, March 13, 2008
Touch It! Smackey reaches Coed League final
Touch It! Smackey, the No. 2 seed in the Gold Division, beat the Pink Flamingos 25-15, 24-26, 25-22 on March 12 to advance to the Gold Division championship match to be played on March 19.
Smackey (Lynnette Chen, Sean Mackey, Marcus Haynes, and JJ O'Connell) will play the winner from the other half of the playoff bracket: top seed McCreakersons (Ann Lee Yuan, Tom Narath, Jim Findura, and Roman Bulowski) plays No. 8 Spike U at 7:30, with Brooks, the fifth seed, waiting to play the winner in the semifinals. The championship match will follow.
JJ led Smackey with 23 kills in the victory over the Flamingos, while Marcus had 18 kills and 3 aces and Sean chipped in 16 kills. Lynnette did the setting.
A key play in the third game was a diving save by Marcus, into the bleachers, on a long rally that was eventually ended with a kill by JJ that made the score 19-17 in favor of the Flamingos. The Flamingos also led 21-18 after Eric Krick's third ace of the match, but Smackey took advantage of Eric being in the back row to tie the game at 21-21.
After a kill by Scott Doyle (7 in the match) gave Flamingos a 22-21 lead, Smackey scored the last 4 points on a kill by Marcus, an ace by Marcus, a kill by JJ, and another ace by Marcus.
Eric finished with 22 kills for the Flamingos, while Chris Jenkins added 3 kills, 3 blocks, and an ace. Setter Linda Delancy had 3 kills and 3 aces.
In the Silver Division playoffs, Team Ultra (Edna Cetina, Jeff Shirtz, Jim Elliott and Alex Desau) and the Flying Squirrels (Mellissa Eckoff, Scott Shaw, Mark Menadier, and AJ Prentice) will play in the championship match on March 19.
Ultra, the top seed, beat Team 5 in the quarterfinals, 25-9, 25-7. They beat the Scarlett Pimpernels 25-15, 18-25, 15-5 in the semis.
The Squirrels, the sixth seed, beat No. 3 Stu's Crew 25-22, 25-18 in the quarterfinals, then beat No. 7 Cupsaw 28-26, 25-17 in the semifinals.
(edited to fix Marcus' last name misspelling).
Smackey (Lynnette Chen, Sean Mackey, Marcus Haynes, and JJ O'Connell) will play the winner from the other half of the playoff bracket: top seed McCreakersons (Ann Lee Yuan, Tom Narath, Jim Findura, and Roman Bulowski) plays No. 8 Spike U at 7:30, with Brooks, the fifth seed, waiting to play the winner in the semifinals. The championship match will follow.
JJ led Smackey with 23 kills in the victory over the Flamingos, while Marcus had 18 kills and 3 aces and Sean chipped in 16 kills. Lynnette did the setting.
A key play in the third game was a diving save by Marcus, into the bleachers, on a long rally that was eventually ended with a kill by JJ that made the score 19-17 in favor of the Flamingos. The Flamingos also led 21-18 after Eric Krick's third ace of the match, but Smackey took advantage of Eric being in the back row to tie the game at 21-21.
After a kill by Scott Doyle (7 in the match) gave Flamingos a 22-21 lead, Smackey scored the last 4 points on a kill by Marcus, an ace by Marcus, a kill by JJ, and another ace by Marcus.
Eric finished with 22 kills for the Flamingos, while Chris Jenkins added 3 kills, 3 blocks, and an ace. Setter Linda Delancy had 3 kills and 3 aces.
In the Silver Division playoffs, Team Ultra (Edna Cetina, Jeff Shirtz, Jim Elliott and Alex Desau) and the Flying Squirrels (Mellissa Eckoff, Scott Shaw, Mark Menadier, and AJ Prentice) will play in the championship match on March 19.
Ultra, the top seed, beat Team 5 in the quarterfinals, 25-9, 25-7. They beat the Scarlett Pimpernels 25-15, 18-25, 15-5 in the semis.
The Squirrels, the sixth seed, beat No. 3 Stu's Crew 25-22, 25-18 in the quarterfinals, then beat No. 7 Cupsaw 28-26, 25-17 in the semifinals.
(edited to fix Marcus' last name misspelling).