JOIN USHolders KSP pull off thrilling win
Defending champions Karnataka State Police (KSP) played a good all-round game to register a hard-fought 25-23, 24-26, 25-22, 25-19 victory over Army Service Corps (ASC) in the 19th State ‘A’ Division volleyball championship at the Sree Kanteerava stadium on Thursday.
KSP now have five points after the win and thus have sealed their place in the league stage’s second phase with one game left to play against LIC. ASC, who have already ensured a spot in the second phase, ended their campaign in the first phase with six points.
Sports Hostel also qualified for the second phase after they got a walkover from Sports Authority of India since a few of the SAI players were unable to make it to the match as they were suffering from dengue.
Taurians, meanwhile, emerged ‘B’ division champions after they got a walkover from Atlanta Sports Club whose players were unavailable to attend the match due to semester examinations.
KSP began strongly in the important game with Nagesh playing some fine smashes and Ravindra complementing him well. The holders were leading 18-16 when ASC gave the cops a tough time levelling scores at 21-21. Saneesh and CK Swamy led the Army outfit’s resurgence but KSP’s Sanoj and Naveen Kumar chipped in when it mattered as they pocketed the set 25-23. In the second set, ASC showed tremendous resilience to make a comeback after trailing for a big part of the set. Girish and Ravindra were turning on the heat for KSP with their drop shots, smashes and serves helping the team enjoy a 15-10 lead.
ASC, egged on by their chirpy coach Aman, launched a brilliant counter-attack through Saneesh, Sudheer and Swamy. Saneesh’s numerous booming smashes from the corner of the net and Swamy’s well-placed shots tied scores at 20-20.
A battling Nagesh kept KSP alive at 24-24 but ASC their nerve to claim the set 26-24.
The contest was nicely set up in the third set but it was KSP who came out all guns blazing this time. Naveen and Hemanth Kumar joined Nagesh and Ravindra in garnering majority of the points as KSP came out 25-22 victors.
In the fourth set, KSP had it easy aided by ASC’s struggle with their serve and difficulty in retrieving balls. Although scores were tied 17-17 at one stage, KSP were unstoppable thereafter as they closed out the set and match at 25-19.
Results: ‘A’ Division: KSP bt ASC 25-23, 24-26, 25-22, 25-19; Sports Hostel w/o SAI. ‘B’ Division: Taurians w/o Atlanta Sports Club.