Date:26/01/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/01/26/stories/2007012610802200.htm

Sport - Sports : General

Kannur keeps winning

KOTTAYAM: A series of hard blocks, effectively put up by Josme Paul and setter Princy Joseph, made the difference as Kannur University defeated Calicut 25-22, 25-18, 25-20 for its second win in the semifinal league of the South-West Zone inter-university women's volleyball championship at the MGU Stadium here on Thursday.

The Kannur girls were tall, averaging 173cm, and this stood the side in good stead both in blocks and the smashes. Apart from her smart setting and solid blocking, Princy also used the tactical ball well. K. Reshma, a former junior international, and P.J. Jomol were outstanding in the attack, beating the rival blocks with their cross-court smashes.

Kannur had beaten last year's runner-up Madras 25-11, 25-17, 25-16 in the morning, while host Mahatma Gandhi won a close five-setter over Calicut.

All the four semfinal league teams also entered the all-India event which begins on January 28.

The results: Semifinal league: Kannur bt Calicut 25-22, 25-18, 25-20; Mahatma Gandhi (Kottayam) bt Calicut 25-13, 19-25, 25-14, 16-25, 15-10; Kannur bt Madras 25-11, 25-17, 25-16.

Quarterfinals: Mahatma Gandhi bt Kerala 25-8, 25-18, 25-19; Calicut bt Mangalore 25-19, 25-15, 19-25, 23-25, 15-11; Madras bt Pune 25-15, 25-17, 25-13. — Principal Correspondent