ASC get the better of MEG

Army Service Corps (ASC) posted a a 25-23, 25-20, 25-23 victory over Madras Engineer Group (MEG) in the first phase of the inaugural Karnataka Volley League (KVL) at the Kodandaramapuram grounds, Malleswaram, on Friday.

ASC, who are the State ‘A’ Division runners-up, have six points after their second successive victory in the league. ASC overcame LIC on Thursday night.

The Sappers, meanwhile, remain on three points, earned after their 23-25, 25-21, 25-18, 25-20 win in their opening match against Karnataka State Police (KSP) on Thursday.

In the ASC-MEG match, the Sappers took a 15-11 lead over their rivals in the first set. ASC, who have been of late pulling off comeback wins, did the same with Adarsh, Arun and Jithu Thomas playing stellar roles.

Arun played the role of setter to perfection as he laid the ball up nicely for Adarsh and Jithu to come up with powerful smashes. ASC held off MEG’s challenge to take the set 25-23.

MEG gave ASC a good fight in the second set too and the teams were tied at 15-15. Jalil, Jishad and Prince kept MEG in the hunt with some good smashes mid-way through the set. ASC, however, pulled away later on to pocket the second set 25-20.

The third set was again a close affair with ASC opening a slender two-point lead at 20-18. MEG did all the hardwork but could not stop ASC from walking away with maximum points as the Army outfit claimed the third set 25-23.  

In the second match KSP, recovering from their first match defeat to MEG, beat Department of Youth Services and Sports (DYSS) 25-22, 25-23, 25-19 to collect three points from two matches.  

DYSS now have two points from two matches after scoring a five-set win over BSNL, who collected one-point from that defeat, on Thursday.

Results: On Friday: ASC bt MEG 25-23, 25-20, 25-23; KSP bt DYSS 25-22, 25-23, 25-19; BSNL bt LIC 19-25, 25-16, 23-25, 25-21, 15-10.

On Thursday: MEG bt KSP 23-25, 25-21, 25-18, 25-20; ASC bt LIC 13-25, 25-21, 25-17, 25-20.