Clinical DYES put it across Sappers; easy for KVC, JSW

Department of Youth Empowerment and Sports (DYES) registered a clinical 25-22, 25-22, 25-16 victory over Madras Engineer Group (MEG) in the first phase of the Karnataka Volleyball League (KVL) at the Chamundeshwari grounds, Jayanagar, here on Sunday. 

DYES have six points with two wins from as many matches. In Saturday’s third match, DYES had recorded a hard-fought 28-26, 25-21, 33-31 win over Karnataka Volleyball Club (KVC). 

Sujith Acharya and Suraj G Nayak played stellar roles for DYES against MEG with their combined efforts at the net, helping the team garner points at will in the first set. 

DYES nudged ahead with a 14-12 lead and kept their noses in front owing to some good all-round work done by Shravan N, the libero, and closed out the set at 25-22. 

MEG made attempts to come back into the game in the second set with Packiaraj and Prince KS executing some fine smashes and drop shots. It was anybody’s set at 16-16 but DYES showed the killer instinct to collect points in a hurry through skipper Vinayak L Rokhade and Raison BR. The duo played their hearts out frustrating the MEG blockers with their guile at the net as they pocketed crucial points helping DYES take the set at 25-22. 

In the third set, MEG, faced with a do-or-die situation, made their best efforts to arrest the DYES charge but failed. The Krishne Gowda-coached side had raced to a six-point lead at 7-1 when MEG started to pegged them back. 

Akhil B and Arul Selvan performed well for MEG with a few cracking smashes to narrow the deficit to 13-11. It was, however, not going to serve their purpose as DYES maintained their upper hand to wrap up the set and match at 25-16. In the day’s second match, KVC defeated Postal 25-20, 25-22, 25-19. JSW, who lost in three sets to MEG in their first match on Saturday, came back into the competition with a come-from-behind 20-25, 25-13, 27-25, 26-24 victory over defending champions BSNL. DH News Service

Results: DYES bt MEG 25-22, 25-22, 25-16; KVC bt Postal 25-20, 25-22, 25-19; JSW bt BSNL 20-25, 25-13, 27-25, 26-24. On Saturday: DYES bt KVC 28-26, 25-21, 33-31.