Twenty three-time champions Railways set up title clash with traditional rivals Kerala in women’s section in the 56th Senior National Volleyball Championship at the SMS Indoor hall here on Monday evening. It will be a hat-trick of wins for the Railways, if they pull off a win in the final on Tuesday.

Railways took only 52 minutes to trounce Tamil Nadu in an one-sided affair by 25-10, 25-17, 25-13 in the first semifinal while Kerala had to struggle before getting past West Bangal 25-16, 23-25, 25-14, 25-19 in 74 minutes in the other last four match.

Railways, having three current Indian stars — Shibi K J, Vaishali P and Priyanka Bora —  in their ranks, were too superior to Tamil Nadu as they dominated the proceedings of the match right from word go. Railways took the first set rather easily while Tamil Nadu women put up some little resistance in the next set. TN lost the third meekly to lose the match.

TN men in final

Men’s final will be played between Tamil Nadu and Haryana. While Tamil Nadu pipped last year’s runners-up Kerala 25-22, 25-22, 25-23, Haryana came from behind to get the better of Services 22-25, 25-18, 25-20, 25-12.
Tamil Nadu players not only avenged the league match drubbing of 0-3 at the hands of Kerala but also exhibited fine tactical game to reach the summit clash.

In the other semifinal, Services grabbed the first game easily but Haryana fought back to draw parity and then went on to win the next two games to march into the final.