6/7/2012 - JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas –
The Air Force Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Agency completed a trifecta of sorts recently, winning three Joint Base San Antonio intramural volleyball titles in the span of six weeks.
After winning both men's and women's base intramural team titles on JBSA-Lackland, AFISRA captured the JBSA-wide volleyball championship crown May 24 in its own backyard at the Chaparral Fitness Center, defeating JBSA-Fort Sam Houston and the No. 1-seeded Warrior Transition Battalion Center for the Intrepid, 15-21, 21-9, 15-13.
Six teams composed of men and women players from across the three JBSA installations - Fort Sam Houston, Randolph and Lackland - contended for the title.
AFISRA's journey to the title started off precariously as WTB/CTI opened an eight-point lead early in the first set, 14-6. AFISRA cut the deficit to four before losing 21-15.
AFISRA middle/outside hitter John Tanaka said the team got tentative in its first-set play, fearing making crucial mistakes.
"We always have a habit of starting off slow in games because no one wants to make mistakes, but we still end up making them," Tanaka said.
The agency shook off the jitters in the second set, building a 9-5 lead behind outside/middle hitter Chris Miranda's three second-set kills. Two more kills by Miranda spurred a set-high 12-point lead as AFISRA cruised to a 21-9 win in the second.
With both teams tied going into the final set, AFISRA and WTB/CTI pulled out all the stops. The teams battled throughout the final set until AFISRA broke away, scoring the last two points off WTB/CTI errors, as the eventual champions clung on for the 15-13 victory and the JBSA volleyball title.
AFISRA's trifecta might not have come to fruition without a pep talk from Miranda after its first set defeat.
"I told them to take it easy, have fun, and play the game the way they know how," he said.
On its journey to the finals, AFISRA defeated 359th Medical Group 21-14, 21-13 in the semifinals of the tournament.
The AFISRA's track record in accumulating volleyball trophies is accredited to its members' participation in various leagues around the city, Tanaka said.
"We play in as many leagues as we can so we can build camaraderie, not just throughout JBSA-Lackland, but with the other bases and teams that participate in volleyball throughout the community."
After the match, WTB/CTI's Lenin Ramirez said his team could have blemished AFISRA's volleyball championship mark if its 10-person roster showed up.
Only half of the roster suited up for the final match. Ramirez said the other half of the roster couldn't make the finale due to personal issues.
"Without a doubt, we could have won this game," Ramirez said.
In the end it was AFISRA who had the recipe for success, rounding out the intramural volleyball season with its third title this year.