Impressive BSNL put it past LIC

Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) started their second phase league campaign on a winning note defeating Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) 27-25, 21-25, 25-17, 25-18 in the 19th State ‘A’ Division volleyball championship at the Sree Kanteerava stadium here on Monday.

BSNL came away with three points for their four-set victory while LIC went home without opening their account unable to stretch the game to the fifth set. Both teams had their moments in a tightly contested first set. LIC’s experienced captain Sree Shekar kept his team in the game with his penetrative smashing and deceptive drop shots.

Anoop D’Costa and Ravi Kumar turned on the heat for BSNL using their reach to smash through acute angles and dropping short smartly, when required. The set was tied at 25-25 before BSNL showed their nerves of steel to bag the set at 27-25.

In the second set, LIC regrouped to take the attack to BSNL. Avinash Shetty and Nakul were combining well for them with some effective blocking and smashing. LIC opened a healthy four-point lead at 16-12 to put pressure on BSNL. BSNL pulled back things at 22-20 after a couple of good smashes from captain Maruthi G Nayak but LIC held firm to take the set 25-21. 

In the third set, BSNL came out with a more positive frame of mind and took a nine-point lead at 12-3. Ravi and Anoop did the maximum damage as they pounced on the smallest of opportunities to fetch points.

LIC trimmed the lead to four points at 13-9 owing to Vikram’s clean smashes. BSNL then became rampant, collecting points regularly to close out the game at 25-17.

The onus was on LIC in the fourth set as they looked to keep the match alive, paving the way for some excellent contest. But BSNL had a slight advantage, outfoxing their opponents with clever drop shots.

LIC’s Pavan paid BSNL back with their own coin placing his drop shots well. It was an even contest for a while until BSNL took a four-point lead at 15-11 after Sujit Acharya joined the party.

Operating with the in-form Anoop and Ravi, the trio finished the match for BSNL at 25-18.
In the second match, ASC overwhelmed Sports Hostel 25-16, 25-20, 25-19.

Results: ‘A’ Division: BSNL bt LIC 27-25, 21-25, 25-17, 25-18; ASC bt Sports Hostel 25-16, 25-20, 25-19.