Date:12/05/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/05/12/stories/2006051210272000.htm

Sport - Volleyball

Karnataka girls struggle to beat Rajasthan

Principal Correspondent

BANGALORE: Karnataka girls huffed and puffed their way into the quarterfinals of the 14th mini National volleyball championships by overcoming Rajasthan 25-14, 30-28, 16-25, 26-24 at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium courts on Thursday.

P. Laxmi packed quite a punch in her shots but was very inconsistent while left-handed Anusha P.C. could have done a lot better. All the fine promptings by captain and setter S.B. Anusha were frittered away by some lacklustre showing, which allowed Rajasthan to make a valiant fight.

Meanwhile, Kerala girls were taken to the decider before defeating West Bengal 20-25, 25-22, 25-20, 15-25, 15-10 to emerge as Group B topper.

Frayed nerves and negative points cost the Bengal girls dear despite some fine showing by Riya Mondal and Riya Boswas. For Kerala, Hitha Hareendran and Krishnendu played well. However, both teams advanced into the last eight.

In the boys' section, last year's runner-up Andhra Pradesh proved to be too good for Pondicherry and won on a canter at 25-13, 25-14, 25-12, while the lads from Jammu & Kashmir outplayed Jharkhand 25-13, 25-11, 25-14 to make sure of a knockout berth.

The results:

Boys: Pool A: TN bt J&K 25-11, 25-17, 25-11; MP bt Jharkhand 25-21, 25-19, 25-15; J&K bt Jharkhand 25-13, 25-11, 25-14. Pool B: Assam bt Kerala 25-22, 25-21, 18-25, 25-17; Rajasthan bt Pondicherry 25-11, 25-15, 25-7; UP bt Kerala 25-18, 25-20, 25-21; UP bt West Bengal 25-16, 26-24, 25-18. Pool C: Orissa w/o Chattisgarh; Maharashtra bt Orissa 25-20, 25-7, 25-9. Pool D: AP bt Goa 25-12, 25-20, 25-14; Goa bt Rajasthan 25-17, 25-20, 25-19; AP bt Pondicherry 25-13, 25-14, 25-12.

Girls: Pool A: TN bt UP 25-13, 25-12, 25-6; TN w/o Chattisgarh. Pool B: AP bt Maharashtra 25-22, 25-21, 25-23; AP bt MP 25-18, 25-14, 25-18. Pool C: West Bengal bt Assam 25-13, 25-14, 25-9; Kerala bt West Bengal 20-25, 25-22, 25-20, 15-25, 15-10. Pool D: Rajasthan bt Jharkhand 25-5, 25-15, 25-7; Karnataka bt Rajasthan 25-14, 30-28, 16-25, 26-24; Jharkhand w/o Orissa.