Three-peat champions

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- The 33rd Fighter Wing poses with their third championship trophy in as many years after spiking their way past the 96th Civil Engineer Group during the intramural volleyball championships here May 16. The 33rd FW doubly eliminated the 96th in a best-of-three match game, 19-25, 25-18 and 15-7 to win their third intramural volleyball championship in a row. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Mike Meares)

Three-peat champions

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- Knichole Miller, 33rd Fighter Wing, recovers a pass and sends it back over the net to the 96th Civil Engineer Group during the intramural volleyball championships here May 16. The 33rd FW doubly eliminated the 96th in a best-of-three match game, 19-25, 25-18 and 15-7 to win their third intramural volleyball championship in a row. Miller was named most valuable player for her prowess as a defensive and passing specialist. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Mike Meares)

Three-peat champions

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- Jacob Allen, 33rd Fighter Wing, takes a pass from Jamie Cummins and pounds it to the floor of the 96th Civil Engineer Group during the intramural volleyball championships here May 16. The 33rd FW doubly eliminated the 96th in a best-of-three match game, 19-25, 25-18 and 15-7 to win their third intramural volleyball championship in a row. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Mike Meares)

33rd three-peats at volleyball championships

Published May 17, 2007
By Staff Sgt. Mike Meares
96th Air Base Wing Public Affairs

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- As it is said, "The third times a charm."

In an epic "David and Goliath" or "the bully and the nerd" battle of base-wide proportions, the 33rd Fighter Wing intramural volleyball team completed a three peat championship by spiking their way past the 96th Civil Engineer Group in the intramural championship game May 16 at the Eglin fitness center.

"We had our ups and down, but we were solid all around the court," said Jacob Allen, 33rd FW coach. "We would regroup, put that point behind us and press on with the next one."

The championship game saw its ups and downs for the 33rd as they gave up the first match 25-19 to the 96th -- their first of the season.

"The one bright spot is we are the only team to beat the (33rd in match play) this season," said Jacey Acol, 96th coach. "The guys played hard."

The 96th had to play hard to get to the championship game beating powerhouse 53rd Wing in the tournament to propel them in to the championship conversation. But, their Cinderella season ended without a glass slipper.

"They were hungry and wanted to play six games tonight," Allen said. "We were nervous. It was ours to lose. They had everything to gain."

Although they lost the first match, the 33rd bounced back and took the second match 25 to 18 and the third match 15-7. That completed the first and final game of the championship as the loss doubly eliminated the 96th -- their first loss in the tournament coming from the 33rd also.

Allen said his team stuck to the fundamentals of bump, set and spike to control the ball on both sides of the court all season.

"If we got the pass to the setters, we had the big hitters to put it away," Allen said. "That was the key to us winning every game this season."

Knichole Miller, the libero -- or defensive specialist -- was named the most valuable player of the tournament for her passing and defensive play. The 33rd hopes to bring the same team back for next year's run at four-in-a-row, but knows that if history is a soothsayer, it probably will not happen. Only one member remains from the first championship team and four returned from last season.

It may be yet another rebuilding year for the three-time champions of the 33rd.