Eagles soar over chiefs in volleyball match

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Anthony Jennings
  • Team Egin Public Affairs
EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  The Eagles picked apart the Chiefs winning 3-0 in a best-of-five volleyball match during the first game of the 3rd Annual Chiefs vs. Eagles Multi-Sport Tournament March 4, at the Eglin Fitness Center.

The tournament pits Eglin's chief master sergeants against colonels in volleyball, softball, golf and basketball. The chiefs are the reigning champs, winning last year's competition after a close basketball match up.

"We had to win," said the Eagles' team captain, Col. Michael Guidry. "We were tired of getting beat."

The Chiefs have won in volleyball and basketball the past two years and the Eagles dominated in golf. 

The chiefs got off to a rocky start after getting a line violation on the initial serve. Eagles quickly capitalized and scored enough to gain a substantial lead.

The Chiefs battled back to tie at 9-9, but trailed the rest of the match. Eagles won the first match, 25-19.

The Eagles dominated the second match with spot on serves and aces. But it wasn't just the Eagles superior striking that proved to be their key to success. The Chief's confusing communication caused missed opportunities to return serves. The Eagles clinched the game with ease, winning 25-15.

"It's all about fitness and when you're having fun at the same time it makes it all worth it," Colonel Guidry said.

Going into the third match, the Chiefs changed their strategy.

"Our strategy was simple, score more points," said Chief Master Sgt. Dale Mullins, 46th Air Maintenance Squadron, Chief's team captain.

Score points they did, as Chief Master Sgt. Teresa Lloyd's, 53rd Wing, serves led to six consecutive points to begin the final match. The Eagles responded with Marine Corps Col. Arthur Tomassetti, 33rd Fighter Wing vice commander, serving up their own four-point streak.

The match went back and forth as both teams vied for the lead. The Chiefs managed to tie the game up at 10 points mid-way through, but the Eagles regained the lead and pulled away for another sweeping victory, 25-14.

"Our only strategy was to hit the ball over the net," said Colonel Guidry.

With their two-year winning streak broken in volleyball, the Chiefs look forward to their next match up against the Eagles in softball, April 30.

"It's a crushing defeat, but the better team won today," said Chief Mullins. "When you have people coming out here at this age, you just want to survive. Win, lose or draw, when everyone walks off the court, it's a victory."