The Hindu : Kerala women top Group B

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Feb 14, 2003

Sport

Sport - Volleyball

Kerala women top Group B

By M.C. Raman

Kerala's Preethy lifting a shot from Shyla of Karnataka in the Federation Cup volleyball championship at Triprayar on Thursday. — Photo: K. Gajendran

Triprayar Feb. 13. Karnataka tested Kerala for the No. 1 spot in women's Group B, but it did not have that extra fire power to stop the local side, which fought well to record its second win 23-25, 25-26, 25-26, 22-25, 15-6 and topped the group in the 25th Federation Cup volleyball tournament at the TSGA stadium here on Thursday. Kerala and Karnataka moved into the knock-out semifinals.

It was a big challenge for Karnataka. Yet the team took the fight into the Kerala camp with strong defence and steady attack through Tejaswani and Mamatha Shetty.

But the team was still handicapped by the absence of another strong spiker of the calibre of Tejaswani. The six-footer Mamatha's attack was weak. So the entire burden fell on the shoulders of Tejaswani.

It was a spiking match between Kerala's Gisha Thomas, shorter but with better jump and power, and Tejswani.

Karnataka's better net defence and more organised attack saw the team wrap up the first set, after Kerala rallied from 19-21 to 21-all. At this stage Mamatha spiked close from the net and with some block Karnataka won it.

However, Kerala rallied strongly in the next set in which it took a 19-7 lead. Salitha Prasad, Gisha Thomas and Sheeba kept up the pressure on the rival with steady spiking.

Under pressure, Karnataka's defence became shaky and Kerala also put up strong double block to blunt Tejaswini and Mamatha. However, Karnataka again came back in the fourth set in which the team took a 13-8 lead, but Kerala rallied strongly. However, Karnataka did not give up. With better backcourt game by Supriya and Hemalatha Karnataka surged ahead. Despite Kerala's strong serve Karnataka maintained its first pass and won the fourth set.

Into the decider, it was Kerala, backed by the crowd, which took a 6-1 lead. Sheeba spiked and served well. Even Salitha and Gisha let go their smashes quickly to unsettle the rival defence. That worked and Karnataka lost the match.

In the women's semifinals, Railways will take on Karnataka and Kerala will face Bengal.

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