Defending champs 736th AMXS sweep to victory

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Chuck Walker
  • 436th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. --  After winning the base volleyball championship last season, the 736th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron is having a successful season again this year despite its lone loss to the 436th Maintenance Squadron.

The 736th AMXS got one step closer to its goal of a repeat title on Monday night as they swept the 436th Logistics Readiness Squadron 25-22 and 25-21 in a National League match April 22, 2013, at the fitness center on Dover Air Force Base, Del.

Jon Lu led the 736th AMXS (5-1) serving home 12 service points, seven of which were aces and slamming home seven kills as they swept the 436th LRS.

Lu said serving was pivotal to victory.

"Serving is key for everybody," Lu said. "We were a little slow early on with our serving, but then everybody started to make their serves."

In game one Lu and player-coach Jason Jones each slammed home three kills and Lu also served home seven service points, three of which were aces to give the 736th AMXS the 25-22 victory.

Allen Rummel hit five kills in game two and Lu served four service aces and had four kills to lead the 736th AMXS the 25-21 victory and sweep against the 436th LRS.

Jones was impressed with the play of his hitters, especially Rummel.

"Rummel really stepped up big," Jones said. "He has improved drastically since game one and he has continued to get better as the season has gone along. Hopefully he will continue to improve and it will peak during the playoffs."

Jones said he hopes his strategy of playing his bench will pay dividends once the playoffs start.

"We're basically trying to get everybody on the team on the court and get them playing time," Jones said. "I think that will give us a little more advantage in the playoffs. If someone is gone or if were missing a player, everybody already had playing time during the regular season, so they will be able to contribute in the playoffs."

The 436th LRS (3-2) will try to regroup as they prepare for the playoffs.
"A lot of us are new and we're playing together for the first time," Ayhan Ozturkoglu, 436th LRS captain said. "We're going to get better as the season goes along and in the playoffs we will be competitive."

Jones said his team needs to improve its passing and chemistry to reach its goal of repeating as base champions.

"We need to cut down on our mistakes, make better passes and sets and get our team chemistry a little more solid," Jones said. "If we do those things we should be in good shape."