723rd AMXS takes intramural volleyball crown

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Spencer Gallien
MOODY AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. --  The 723rd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron beat the 23rd Force Support Squadron to win the base intramural volleyball championship in a dominating fashion June 11 at the Freedom I Fitness Center.

The best-of-three match lasted only two games, in which the 723rd AMXS benefitted from the strong spiking ability of Staff Sgt. Thomas Watson, the setting abilities of Tech. Sgt. Eugene Quigley and the serves from Staff Sgt.'s Dennis Mendoza and team captain Darick Butman, and prevented the 23rd FSS from mounting a comeback.

The final score of the first game was 723rd AMXS 25- 23rd FSS 18, while the second game ended more lop-sided with a score of 723rd AMXS 25- 23rd FSS 14.

For Sergeant's Butman and Quigley, the road to a volleyball championship has been a long, winding journey.

They began that journey more than seven years ago when they were part of a team when stationed in Osan Air Force Base, Korea.

"For Sergeant Quigley and me, we've played together a long time without a championship," said Sergeant Butman. "It seems that every year we've had to overcome adversity whether it is a deployment or temporary duty assignment to a key player or just having to sacrifice for the sake of the mission."

This year everything aligned for the sergeants and 723rd AMXS team giving them a long awaited 1st place trophy.

Although the final score may not have indicated a tight game, the first match began with a neck-to-neck battle between the teams.

As the score and momentum shifted back and forth between the teams, the buzz around the gymnasium grew. When Sergeant Quigley blocked the spike of 23rd FSS player Staff Sgt. Dontavion Smith, the maintainers took a three-point lead and the gymnasium began to erupt.

"When 5 foot 7 inch Sergeant Quigley blocked the 6 foot 6 inch Sergeant Smith we knew we were in business," said Sergeant Butman. "Our goal was to come out with intensity, and when we were making those kinds of plays, we knew that the game was going our way."

As the tension of the game built, so did the players' intensity. After the first game, both teams were reprimanded by the referee because of the heated interactions during the game.

"There's always a level of intensity in a championship game," said Sergeant Smith, 23rd FSS player. "During the season we split with the 723rd AMXS. Both teams knew they could beat each other on any given night, but when you bring that kind of competition to the table, sometimes the intensity-level can soar."

Although the referee's warning put the players on their best behavior, the gym buzz didn't wane.

In the second game, the 723rd AMXS continued with their original game-plan as Sergeant Butman stressed to his team the importance of starting strong.

"We wanted to set the tone for the games from the get-go," he added. "Our goal was to get in the opposing teams heads and let them know this is our year to win."

The second game began with a flurry of points when the 723rd AMXS jumped out to a 17-7 lead.

Although, the 23rd FSS made a run in the second game when Ana Dendawski, 23rd FSS player, served up five points in a row, it was not enough to keep the trophy out of the 723rd AMXS's hands.

"They (723rd AMXS) came out and made the plays they needed to make," said Sergeant Smith. "It's hard to combat a team when everyone on the floor can set the ball like they were."

Sergeant Smith acknowledged that the 723rd AMXS was the better team that night. He pointed out, however, the 23rd FSS will be back next year looking for new hardware.

"The 723rd AMXS is a good team; they deserved to be there and they earned the trophy," said Sergeant Smith. "But we will be back next year, and were looking to go 14-0 in the regular season."

During the regular season the 723rd AMXS finished 12-2 while the 23rd FSS finished 8-4.