The Hindu : Sport / Volleyball : IOB downs VVR Club

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Feb 18, 2008
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

Sport

Sport - Volleyball

IOB downs VVR Club

NELLORE: Indian Overseas Bank, Chennai struggled to defeat VVR Club, Hyderabad 25-16, 25-22, 22-25, 21-25, 15-7 in a men’s group B match of the National volleyball league at the A.C. Subba Reddy sports complex here on Sunday.

In the women’s section, Eastern Railway got the better of Sports Authority of India, Thalasserry 25-23, 21-25, 25-15, 25-21.

In a fast-paced game, IOB kept the exchanges short, some blistering smashes from P. Sivabalan fetching the Chennai side points by the handful. Its boosting was better too, enabling prime positioning when unleashing the smashes. Close to the net, the duo of Jinson Varghese and K. Karthikeyan gave their opponents a torrid time, the former’s rapid reflexes prevailing in one particularly rapid-fire exchange inches from the net.

The second set proved more even, but the Chennai squad clinched it 25-22. However, the third set was claimed by VVR Club. Some opportunistic moves by the trio of Sijju, Saji Kumar and Bharat Goud enabled VVR claim the fourth too at 25-21.

The onus was now on the bank, packed with internationals as against the Hyderabad side that had none. IOB rose to the occasion, preferring placement over power in the decider, building up a sizeable 8-2 lead at the changeover. From thereon, there was no stopping the Chennai team.

The results: Men: Group B: IOB, Chennai bt VVR Club, Hyderabad 25-16, 25-22, 22-25, 21-25, 15-7.

Women: Eastern Railway, Kokata bt SAI, Thalasserry 25-23, 21-25, 25-15, 25-21. Saturday’s results: Men: Group B: IOB bt Karnataka Police 25-17, 25-18, 25-15. Women: Central Railway, Mumbai bt Eastern Railway 25-17, 25-19, 22-25, 25-19. — Special Correspondent

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Sport