Cignal upends Mane ’N Tail for PSL lead

MANILA, Philippines - Cignal fended off Mane ‘N Tail in the fourth set to fashion out a 25-15, 22-25, 25-19, 26-24 victory and wrest the early lead with two wins in the 2014 Philippine Superliga (PSL) Grand Prix presented by Asics at the Cuneta Astrodome yesterday.

With the tandem of Lindsay Stalzer and Sarah Ammerman stepping up in the clutch, the HD Spikers took the tightly fought fourth set and the match while bucking the 31-point explosion of Kristy Jaeckel in the women’s division of the inter-club tournament organized by Sports Core.

Stalzer delivered 23 kills to finish with 25 points while Ammerman knocked down 15 hits and five aces for a 22-hit effort.

In the second game, RC Cola-Air Force made short work of Foton, 25-13, 25-20, 25-14, to barge into the win column.

Iari Yongco nailed 12 points while Maika Ortiz chipped in 11 markers for the Raiders, who overhauled their attacks after suffering a bitter straight-set loss to the HD Spikers in the opener of the event backed by Air 21, My Phone, Via Mare, Mikasa, Mueller Sports Medicine, Healthway Medical, Generika Drugstore, LGR and Jinling Sports as technical partners

Jaeckel’s 31-point performance was the highest in this tourney following the 37-point explosion of rookie Dindin Santiago in her debut last conference. But her heroics went for naught as the HD Spikers kept their two-point edge in the fourth set before Jaeckel’s backrow attack went wide leading to their first loss.

“We were a bit worried when they fought back in the fourth,” said Cignal coach Sammy Acaylar. “I didn’t expect that they were that strong, especially their imports. But we stayed focused and I told my setter not to focus on the open spiker and use more combination plays.”

Prior to Cignal’s win, a Fil-Am standout in David McKienzie showed up and offered to help in the development of men’s volleyball in the country.

McKienzie, a member of the US men’s volleyball squad whose mother was regarded as one of the country’s finest national team members in basketball and volleyball, said he is looking forward to the development and improvement of volleyball in the country, especially with the Filipinos’ passion for the sport.

“It’s all a matter of dedication,” said McKienzie, the 35-year old spiker who registered a record of 58 kills in an official game in the US NCAA Division I. “Volleyball players here work hard while having fun. I like their passion for the game. I don’t think their size disadvantage will be a major factor in making it to the global stage.”

Still, the day belonged to Stalzer and Ammerman – two comely imports who have taken the league by storm.

With Stalzer buckling down to work early on, the HD Spikers rolled to an early 25-15 win in the first set but struggled in the second, no thanks to the red-hot performance of Jaeckel, an All-American for the University of Florida in the US NCAA Division I.

Stalzer roared back to life in the early part of the third set while Ammerman finished the job as the HD Spikers went on a rampage with seven consecutive hits to seal the set victory, 25-19.

“I am lucky to have them as imports,” Acaylar said. “Not only they are good, but they also have good attitude and excellent communication skills. They are willing to listen to their teammates.

Michelle Datuin and Rossan Fajardo nailed eight markers apiece for the Lady Stallions, who will roll to Sto. Domingo, Ilocos Sur today to face Petron in the league’s second out of town game this weekend.