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The All-Star Girls High School Volleyball program under the NMI Volleyball Association wrapped up Saturday at the Marianas High School Gymnasium after nearly two weeks of training and games from Oct. 27 to Nov. 7.
Top players from the girls’ high school season were split into two teams, with Painkillers beating Plumerias in three straight sets. They played two extra sets for fun, but it was still competitive.
This marks the third year of NMIVA’s effort to revitalize the program and continue to grow the sport in the islands.
The Painkillers team coached by Don Cabrera, included Jayme Vargas, Neveah Camacho, Patience Borja, Erica Zandueta, Breanna Lopez, Shaina Malonzo, and Lina Tsukagoshi, while the Plumerias 18 coached by Jasmine John consisted of Sofia Gomez, Charlotte Amano, Ella Hall, Eliane Pagaduan, Bea Fabre, Billie Pangelinan, and Marlaina Benjamin.
For Pangelinan, a junior at Saipan Southern High School said of the program: “I think All Stars is a great program because it continues to train your skills after the season ends with new people. So, if you’re to try out for something like NMI [national team], you’re not as shy and you know other people already and you can make better chemistry with them.”
She added, “I really like this experience because we had several coaches and we had a lot of people from every school so it was a lot of getting to know each other and learning how to play with new people.”
As they were randomly split into two teams, she said, “So playing against my own teammates was kind of interesting because I’ve gotten so used to playing with them and during the season I was a setter, but for All Stars I was nominated as a libero so that was new. So playing as a libero with new people was very nerve-racking since we had absolutely no chemistry.”
Benjamin, a sophomore at Kagman High School, said the experience for her was amazing. “We got to interact and socialize with others and like really just better ourselves and our skills,” she said.
She added, “So I honestly think this All Stars Volleyball Program, it’s a really good start for future volleyball players and like it helps them with their skills training and like to get the feel of the sport.” She added, “Playing with our teammates, it was honestly alright. Everyone got to now each other. We got some I’d say, chemistry. Maybe during school tournaments, we won’t be so shy.”
Ryutaro Litulumar, board member of NMIVA and league coordinator for the volleyball leagues with PSS. He said that the goal of the All Stars program is to “sort of foster and grow the younger generations to eventually sort of represent our islands when we have bigger tournaments like the Mini Games and Pacific Games. And hopefully, they can grow to be a small community and grow it to become a bigger one eventually.”
The program is in its third year and for after the boys volleyball season next year, they hope to bring in a Guam team. “It will be tough but we’ll just try to bring in Guam, Tinian, and Rota teams—bring them over, and we’ll see what happens.”
The full list of All Stars from each school included Saipan International School’s Hoo Wang, Irin Chung, and Layla Beagle; SSHS’ Azzy Fatialofa, Aiyana Fatialofa, and Shaina Malonzo; Grace Christian Academy’s Bea Fabre, Eliane Pagaduan, and Breanna Lopez; Mount Carmel School’s Jieun Kwon, Anjoelena Villagomez, and Abrey Quitugua; Marianas High School’s Ella Hall, Erica Zandueta, and Charlotte Amano; KHS’ Neveah Camacho, Marlaina Benjamin, and Patience Borja; Tinian High School’s Kaisa San Nicolas, Ysabelle Lenteja, and Alice Chen; Dr.Rita H. Inos High School’s Zayda Taitano, Abcde Hocog, and Doriann Lizama. The All-Star liberos included Lina Tsukagoshi, Piper Christian, Billie Pangelinan, and Kiara Tabora, while the All-Star setters were Jayme Vargas, L.J. Libut, Phoenix Gross, Sofia Gomez, and Hope McQuay.
By Leigh Gases
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