On the first day of the Micronesian Games, July 21st, 2014 (Monday), men's and women's volleyball competition was held at the State Gym in Dolonier, Nett.
It was a great opportunity, to witness the women's volleyball competition between the Yap volleyball team and the Marshall Islands Volleyball team. The Yap team won in straight sets. The first set, they won 25-22 points, second set 25-17 points, and the third set, they finally ended the game with the scores of 25-9, sweeping team Marshall Islands 3 sets to 0.
Fortunately, we were able to interview the team captain for team Yap, Lilliana Gootinag (29). This is the third Micro Games that she has participated in. She started playing volleyball when she was eight years old. Her first experience in the Micro Games was when she was still in the seventh grade in the year 1998. Her second time was in the year 2002, and this year will be her third and last.
"My main goal is to win... to go to the finals and win," she said proudly as the team captain. "This probably will be my last time participating in the Micro Games for I'm going to be thirty this year... I'm coaching the young kids."
Her motivation in playing in the Micro Games comes from her Youth back in Yap.
"What motivates me to be here is the youth back home. I'm into youth so I have all the youth back home. I try to help them out... I try to get them to come out and participate but they were too young... they were in high school... but i told them 'If I can do it at this age, you can do it.' Hopefully in the next Micro Games, they will be participating."
By Aiesha-Laine Santos, Ellymore Manuel, & Mitchell C. Johnson
United Youth Media
Last Modified on 22/07/2014 03:10