HCS, ESS seek Dunkin' volley final

Manila, Philippines - Hope Christian School and Elizabeth Seton School try to arrange a title clash in the first Dunkin’ Big Dunk high school beach volleyball as they take on separate rivals today in the crossover semifinal round at the UE-Caloocan sand courts.

The HCS and ESS tossers swept their respective groups in the girls division with the former (6-0), drawing Group B No. 2 University of the East (4-1) and the latter (5-0) battling it out with Girls A No. 2 De La Salle (5-1) for berths in the championship round.

HCS and UE slug it out at 1 p.m. while ESS and La Salle collide at 2 p.m. The winners will dispute the crown at 4 p.m.

Also on tap in the tournament, sponsored by Dunkin’ Donuts and backed by Shakey’s, LBC, Toby’s Sports, Mikasa, Asics, Mighty Sports and Metro Sports, is the boys’ Final Four pitting Makati High School against St. James Academy-Malabon (SJM) at 1:30 p.m. and UE against St. James College-Parañaque (SJP) at 2:30 p.m.

MHS, which swept Boys A with a 4-0 mark, whipped St. Joseph College, 11-6, 11-7, while UE, which also posted a 4-0 record in Boys B, stamped its class over Harrell Horne Integrated School, 11-2, 11-2, in the quarterfinals.

SJM bested ESS, 11-4, 11-8, while SJP also scored a straight-set 11-4, 11-7 victory over sister team St. James Meerkats to clinch the last semifinal berth.

HCS has never dropped a set on its way to lording it over the Girls A field.