96 OG wins intramural volleyball title

  • Published
  • By Kevin Gaddie
  • Team Eglin Public Affairs
EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  The 96th Operations Group won the intramural volleyball championship here June 19, beating the 53rd Wing in a thrilling best three-out-five contest.

Both teams battled almost shot-for-shot in the first two games. All of the 53rd Wing's team, with six players and no substitutes, had to stay on the floor through the entire match. They edged the 96 OG in the first game, 25-22.

The 96 OG, with eight players, kept their side fresh by regularly rotating their players. They won the second game with an identical 25-22 score.

The 96 OG ramped up the energy in the third game. Key blocking plays by Erol Dizon and Scott Rinella led them to a 25-16 win and a one-game advantage.

Daniel Lee, the 96 OG team captain, liked his squad's chances heading into the fourth game.

"The first game started a little slow for us, but our blocking gave us a boost in the second game," said Lee. "We just have to keep playing hard."

The 53rd Wing didn't shy away from the challenge.

"We like playing with our backs to the wall," said Kevin Cook, the 53rd Wing team captain. "Emily Curtis has been our strongest server. Victor Smith and Steven Delaunois gave us some great blocking. Everyone got some good hits in. It's been a good all-around effort so far."

Cook said a stronger rotation at the net and heads-up defense would keep them in contention.

"They threw a good triple block at us in the last game, so we need to look for some dink pass opportunities," he said.

The 53rd Wing team, determined to take the contest to the limit, combined solid defensive play with some lucky points at the net and narrowly escaped elimination with a 27-25 win.

With the score tied at two games each, the championship game was decided by the first team to earn 15 points, instead of 25.

The 96 OG gathered their reserve, united defensively in the backcourt and pounded away at the net. They won the final game 15-8 and sealed the victory.

"We are very happy to have won the championship," said Lee. "Our team and theirs competed well. We just hung in there, played harder and stayed strong."