Date:16/01/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/01/16/stories/2006011607211800.htm

Sport - Volleyball

Tamil Nadu qualifies on better set quotient

M.C. Raman

Pune: Tamil Nadu suffered a 13-25, 31-29, 19-25, 25-22, 15-13 defeat at the hands of Uttar Pradesh in the last Group C men's match of the 54th National senior volleyball championship at the SP College campus here on Saturday.

Despite Tamil Nadu's loss, it edged out UP through a better set quotient.

In another match Punjab knocked out Andhra from the race in men's Group B. Punjab rallied brilliantly to record a 23-25, 25-18, 25-21, 25-16 victory that eventually decided the outcome in this group. Uttaranchal, which won both its matches on Saturday from Group A, Punjab from Group B, Tamil Nadu from Group C and Karnataka from Group D qualified for the second phase in the men's section. In the women's section, Karnataka from Group A, Chandigarh from Group B, Bengal from Group C and Delhi, which tied with Rajasthan but had a better quotient, from Group D moved into the next phase which will be held at the indoor stadium at Balawadi.

In the men's section Haryana, the holder, is pitted against Services, Punjab and Tamil Nadu in Group X and Railways, the runner-up, is clubbed with Kerala, Uttaranchal and Karnataka in Group Y.

Kerala, the holder in the women's section, is with Tamil Nadu, Chandigarh and Bengal in Group X while Railways, the runner-up, is with Andhra, Karnataka and Delhi in Group Y.

The two top finishers in each group will go into the semifinal knock-out.