38 CTS’ three-year title run ends
435 CS takes volleyball crown

***image1***The 38 CTS’ three-year winning streak as intramural volleyball champions ended May 4 with a loss to the 435 CS in the championship game.

The teams first met in the fourth round of the playoff tournament April 28 at the Ramstein Southside Fitness Center. The 435 CS, undefeated all season and ranked No. 1, knocked the 38 CTS to the losers’ bracket – winning 25-22, 25-19.

Both teams went on to conquer their brackets until meeting again in the championship game. To stay alive the 38 CTS had to win the first match as the second half of the tournament was double elimination.

After a grim, slow start and plainly losing the first game 15-25, 38 CTS took the momentum and the next two games 27-25 and 15-6.

Middle blockers Ron Istre, 38 CTS, and Pat Hendrix, 435 CS, had big games against each other in hitting and net play.

In the second match, the teams battled it out, matching point for point with kill after kill. Service errors were a big factor in giving up points for both teams. In the first game, 38 CTS was up 24-22 and couldn’t close it out. With only a small margin of victory, 435 CS took the championship title, winning 26-24, 25-23.

“To have game point and not win is tough. If we won that first game, there might have been a different result,” said Tracy Lintz, 38 CTS team captain.

The teams had a friendly rivalry all season, pitting players from the community-level team against each other. Both teams were expected to make it to the championship.

“It was the best head-to-head match-up all season,” said Bryce Kekahuna, 435 CS team captain.