Kerala spikers claim titles

Kerala clinched the men’s and women’s titles in the All-India Invitational volleyball tournament for the Vajpayee Cup with contrasting victories over Andhra Pradesh and Central Railway respectively here on Sunday.

Kerala defeated Andhra Pradesh in the men’s final comfortably in three sets 25-20, 25-18, 25-18.

The women, however, had a tougher time, having to come back from two sets down to take the title.

The Kerala women lost the first set 20-25 before finding themselves in deep trouble after losing the second set 18-25. Central Railway were controlling things in the first two sets with Priyanka Bora and Soumya starring for the Railway side.

 The Kerala women, however, did not drop their heads and clawed their way back admirably, riding on stellar efforts from Bijina, Alfonsa and Tiji Raju, clinching the next two 25-23, 26-24. The deciding set also went to the wire, with Kerala edging Central Railway 15-13 to clinch the title.

In the third-place playoff Karnataka went down to Southern Railway 25-18, 19-25, 25-19, 25-21.

Karnataka, however, clinched third place in the men’s category with a 25-19, 25-21, 25-16 victory over Tamil Nadu.

Results: Men: Final: Kerala bt Andhra Pradesh 25-20, 25-18, 25-18.

Third-place playoff: Karnataka bt Tamil Nadu 25-19, 25-21, 25-16.

Women: Final: Kerala bt Central Railway 20-25, 18-25, 25-23, 26-24, 15-13.

Third-place playoff: Southern Railway bt Karnataka 25-18, 19-25, 25-19, 25-21.