RAIPUR: Fancied teams came under fire as underdogs dominated the men's section of the 55th senior National volleyball championship at the Netaji Subhas Stadium here on Thursday.

Sterling displays by Kerala and Karnataka threw open the contest in group B with last year's runner-up Services and semifinalist Punjab at the receiving end. Kerala surprised Services 3-1 in a high-voltage encounter while Karnataka showed grit and gumption in beating Punjab 3-2.

Haryana, fighting to displace the leaders, tried to storm last year's semifinalist Uttaranchal's citadel but went down gallantly 1-3 in a men's group A league contest. Kerala won the second match of its group comfortably defeating Punjab 3-0, while defending champion Railways posted its second victory defeating Uttaranchal 3-1.

However, it was smooth sailing for the favourites in the women's section. In group B, Kerala carried too many guns for the inexperienced Tamil Nadu team to win 3-0. Andhra Pradesh, trying to hold on to the third spot after a stunning loss to Tamil Nadu, subdued Delhi 3-1.

Punjab and Bihar women ensured the top spot in group C and D for a meeting in the play-off against each other. Chhattisgarh men too emerged the group C champion with an all-win record.

In the best match of the championship so far, Kerala's telling smashes and effective blocking paid rich dividends against Services.

If there was one player who made the difference in this match it was international Tom Joseph. He was simply superb in both attack and defence.

The results:

Men: Group A: Uttaranchal bt Haryana 3-1 (28-26, 25-23, 19-25, 25-20); Railways bt Uttaranchal 3-1 (17-25, 25-16, 25-21, 25-17). Group B: Karnataka bt Punjab 3-2 (25-16, 25-15, 21-25, 23-25, 15-13); Kerala bt Services 3-1 (21-25, 29-27, 25-23, 28-26); Kerala bt Punjab 3-0 (25-18, 25-21, 25-13). Group C: Rajasthan bt Jharkhand 3-0 (25-17, 25-19, 25-21); Chhattisgarh bt J & K 3-0 (25-19, 25-16, 25-18). Group D: Delhi bt Andaman & Nicobar 3-0 (25-6, 25-14, 25-17); Maharashtra bt Gujarat 3-0 (25-18, 25-17, 25-17). Group E: Goa bt Assam 3-1 (25-23, 15-25, 25-21, 25-21); AP bt Chandigarh 3-2 (26-24, 22-25, 15-25, 29-27, 15-8).

Women: Group B: Kerala bt TN 3-0 (25-21, 25-12, 25-14); AP bt Delhi 3-1 (19-25, 25-11, 25-18, 25-14). Group E: Maharashtra bt Orison 3-0 (25-17, 25-17, 25-18); HP bt Rajasthan 3-0 (25-8, 25-10, 25-14). Group F: Punjab bt Jharkhand 3-0 (25-14, 25-13, 25-11); UP bt Gujarat 3-0 (25-16, 25-18, 25-16).

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