Four-peat for Umangs in v-ball

3/11/25 - The Koblerville Elementary School Umangs 1 are an undefeated dynasty in the volleyball world as they swept the PSS-NMIVA Co-ed Elementary School Volleyball Tournament 2024-2025 season and capped it off with their fourth straight title last Saturday at the Oleai Sports Complex.

Umangs 1 clinched the title in a quick final matchup against runner-up San Vicente Elementary School Canaries 1, 21-4. After a 10-point bombardment by the Umangs, it seemed like the game was over as quickly as it had started. 

However, the Canaries regrouped and managed to score a few points. Still, the Umangs halted their momentum and scored the final points to seal the victory.

The Umangs 1 team made up of James Defang, TicksonCosmes, Nolan Mallens, Julian Yamada, Liam Duenas, Jesus Cabrera, Isabel Borja, Ivory Duenas, Vanicia Mettao, BaylynMansfield, Renita Wabol, Delores Okoruru, and Rebecca Alvarado breezed through the season undefeated. 

They tied with Kagman Elementary School 1 and Garapan Elementary School 2 for the best record in the regular season, with five consecutive wins. In the playoffs, Umangs 1 also made light work of the competition as they went through it unscathed as well.

SVES 1 included Roy Ada, O’Marion Reyes, Denzel Kaipat, Lincoln Teregeyo, Kadence Royal, Cleofinus Masao, HunnieTae Norita, Aria Tupas, Arianni Fejeran, Devyne Chipuelong, Sarah Norech, and Raylin Deleon Guerrero.

Third place went to Umangs 2 after they lost to SVES earlier in the day.

Umangs 1 head coach Francis Mendiola said of their fourth straight championship, “It feels good. We’ve been working on this for the past two months. Thank goodness Mr. Erlwin[Aguirre] came back to our school to help us with preparing these students, also Mr. Jonas Barcinas… our coaches, we worked hard—our students worked hard also and they adapted what the coaches wanted them to do.”

Aguirre added, “This season was really difficult because most of our players were all-around. They do a lot of extracurricular activities such as singing competitions and also sports, which is really good for them. But yeah, it was a really hard season, but we fought harder.” 

As for their practices, he said, “It consisted of conditioning, serves, receives, and something new we did this season was overhand serves. I noticed that most of our kids can overhand serve.”

Angela Ruiz, assistant coach for Umangs 1 and 2, for her part said, “if we didn’t have the two teams, team one wouldn’t be as good as they are because team one and team two scrimmage each other. They play together and they’re able to bring each other up.”