Holders BSNL get the better of KVC

 Defending champions Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) went past Karnataka Volleyball Club (KVC) 25-22, 25-22, 25-27, 25-19 in the first phase of the Karnataka Volleyball League (KVL) at the Chamundeshwari grounds, Jayanagar, here on Tuesday.

The victory ensured the holders move to five points from four matches while KVC remain on six points from four games.

DYES occupy the top slot in the table with nine points from three matches, followed by JSW, who have six points from three matches.

MEG, who lost 25-23, 25-15, 23-25, 25-20 to Postal, stay on three points from four matches while the latter have four points from as many matches.

BSNL held sway over the proceedings for the better part of the match save for the third set.

KVC began the match on a positive note holding a 7-4 lead at one stage with Avinash Shetty and MN Vikram in good nick but the pendulum swung towards BSNL very soon.   
BSNL skipper TD Ravikumar started the resurrection launching his trademark smashes at the KVC blockers while Satheesh Kumar proved to be an able ally mixing up the smashes and drop shots effectively as BSNL took the set 25-22.

The match progressed on a similar path in the second set as well with KVC holding all the aces in the earlier part of the set with a four-point lead at 9-5.

Libero Shankar TG and Sharath Shetty provided the initial impetus to KVC with some good work at the back of the court and at the net as well. Advantage quickly shifted towards BSNL with Ravikumar continuing to trouble the opposition with his smashes to give his team a five-point lead at 17-12 before closing out the set at 25-22 yet again.
In a closely fought third set, KVC managed to keep their cool with scores level at 24-24 as Avinash garnered the big points to help them claim the set at 27-25.

Ravikumar stamped his authority in the fourth set as he relentlessly pounded the KVC defence as BSNL ran up a five-point lead at 14-9.  KVC pegged them back a bit to tie scores at 19-19 but thereafter the combine of Ravikumar and Maruthi G Nayak pocketed six points successively for BSNL as they wrapped up the set and match at 25-19.

Results: BSNL bt KVC 25-22, 25-22, 25-27, 25-19; Postal bt MEG 25-23, 25-15, 23-25, 25-20.