The Hindu : Sport / Volleyball : Alappuzha enters quarterfinals

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Dec 29, 2004

Sport

Sport - Volleyball

Alappuzha enters quarterfinals

KOCHI, DEC. 28. Springing a few surprises in every set, Alappuzha defeated Kottayam 3-1 and entered the men's quarterfinals of the Kerala State senior volleyball championship at the Pappan Stadium, Varapuzha, on Tuesday evening.

Virtually the Muthoot team which has its training base in Kochi though it is registered with Alappuzha District, the team jelled well. Led by T.V.Ratheesh and comprising mainly of Bobby Augustine, A.Shaji, Ajithkumar, N.P.Abhilash and the talented setter Vimal Jacob, Alappuzha took time to settle down, but once it did, the points flowed in a flurry.

Midway through the second set, the team entered the groove. With the left-handed Vimal serving some smart floaters, Alappuzha suddenly raced from 12-9 to 20-10. And in the next set, another left-hander, Bobby produced a series of jump serves which clearly rattled Kottayam. There were a few aces too.

With Haroon Rasheed and A.P.Shameer thwarting Bobby's angled smashes frequently, Kottayam ran Alappuzha close in the fourth set. And suddenly, under pressure, Alappuzha kept aside its jump serves and went for some safe serves. But towards the end, a shrewd Ratheesh drop and a hard block for Kottayam's Jafar Mylakudi saw Alappuzha through.

The results (league): Pool C: Alappuzha bt Kottayam 22-25, 25-14, 25-17, 28-26; Alappuzha bt Wynad 25-22, 25-19, 25-17; Kottayam bt Pathanamthitta 26-28, 25-21, 25-20, 17-25, 15-8.

Pool D: Malappuram bt Kasargod 22-25, 22-25, 30-28, 25-20, 15-8.

Monday's late matches: Kollam bt Idukki 25-18, 15-25, 25-15, 25-21; Thiruvananthapuram bt Kannur 25-23, 25-18, 25-23. — Our Principal Correspondent

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