Mahila Seva Samaja girls edged Carmel ‘B’ in a three-set thriller in the State-level inter-school volleyball tournament for the Yeshodamma Memorial Trophy at the Sree Kanteerava stadium here on Wednesday.
Despite the hard-fought victory, MSS failed to make it to the Super League stage of the tournament which starts on Thursday. Carmel ‘A’, St Mary’s, Stella Mary’s and Sports School qualified from the girls’ section, while Shantiniketan BTM, Sports School, Gandhi Vidhya Shala and A V Education made it from the boys’ category.
In probably one of the best matches of the tournament so far, the Samaja girls did well to recover after some initial hiccups. MSS began on the wrong note with their very first serve going out. However, skipper Janaki, who excelled with her stout defending, and Pooja with her smashes ensured that MSS reduced the deficit. Once they took the lead, they clung on to it and raced away with the first set 25-7.
Carmel ‘B’ were in no mood to surrender as they clawed their way back by taking the second set 25-16. Vimika was the architect of the Carmel ‘B’ revival with some good serves.
In the decider, Carmel ‘B’ tried every trick in the book including taking time-outs when the opposition had things going their way, but in vain as the Samaja girls won it 15-7.
Meanwhile, Shantiniketan, BTM maintained their clean slate by posting a 25-6, 25-21 victory over Basaveswara (Nelmangala) in the boys’ section. The duo of Pradeep Choudari and Praveen Choudhari did the bulk of the scoring for Shantiniketan, winners in the High School section of the Soundarya Cup last week.
Results: Boys: Gandhi Vidyha Shala bt Shantiniketan, Belekalli 26-24, 25-20; Shantiniketan, BTM bt Basaveswara (Nelmangala) 25-6, 25-21; Sports School, Vidyanagar bt BHS, RV: 25-16, 25-22.
Girls: Sports School, Vidyanagar bt Shantiniketan, Belekalli 25-5, 25-7; Chickmagalur bt Shantiniketan, Belekalli 25-12, 25-4; Mahila Seva Samaja bt Carmel B 25-7, 16-25, 15-7; Stella Mary’s bt Shantiniketan, BTM 25-17, 25-22; St Mary’s bt Carmel ‘B’ 25-14, 25-16; Sports School bt Chikmagalur 25-8, 25-17; Stella Mary’s bt Gandhi Vidhya Shala 21-25, 27-25, 15-7.