Articles

Far East Volleyball Tournament hosted on Andersen

  • Published
  • By Airman First Class Courtney Witt
  • 36th Wing Public Affairs
ANDERSEN AIR FORCE BASE, Guam --  With crowds roaring, Gwen Thornton, a senior from American School in Japan Mustangs, split Guam's George Washington High School Geckos' defense with a powerful spike earning her team the 2008 Far East Volleyball Tournament championship title in three straight sets at the Coral Reef Fitness and Sports Center here. 

Eighteen teams including more than 180 athletes from the Philippines, Korea, Japan and Guam competed in a six-day tournament that was hosted by Guam High School. 

Guam Public School System officials choose the Coral Reef Fitness and Sports Center because of its resources and location. 

"Andersen has the best facility with double courts, a split screen to separate games and not to mention great support from the United States Air Force," explained Maria Rubio, a Guam High School representative who helped coordinate the tournament. She added that she appreciated the security the base had to offer. 

This is the first time the Far East Volleyball Tournament has been hosted in the $17.1 million facility built in 2005. 

"This facility was amazing," said Mustangs' outside hitter Gwen Thornton. "It's larger than our gym back at home; you didn't feel so cramped and you could play a lot more freely." 

Thornton, who was the tournament's MVP stated that the tournament was incredible. 

"We worked so hard all season to get here and seven of us are seniors so it was a grand finale for all of us," she said. 

It was the third title overall for the Mustangs, while the Geckos finished second for the 13th time.