Date:02/03/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/03/02/stories/2008030253131900.htm

Sport - Volleyball

KSEB scores its first win

Sports Reporter

Bargur: Kerala State Electricity Board, looking for its first win of the tournament, played spectacularly and with a lot of passion to humble Indian Bank (Chennai) 25-20, 22-25, 25-18, 25-18 on the penultimate day of the 12th National league volleyball at the GGHSS courts here on Saturday.

KSEB, despite its five unforced errors as against IB’s two, took the first set without much ado. If it managed to do that, it was largely due to some delicate drops by Najeeb Hassan. Also, its block and attack combination of N.P. Subair and P. Jobish co-ordinated well upfront.

IB relied once again on its double dynamite Sayeekrishnan and Kalaivannan to do the job. They did not disappoint either. They worked hard as ever but the rest struggled.

The bank-men staged a comeback in the second, thanks to KSEB’s generosity. The Kerala team failed to get its first passes right and also offered points at crucial junctures on a platter. In fact, that cost them the set.

In the third and fourth sets, KSEB, the title-winner at Vatakara, looked hungry all of a sudden. It showed better cohesion. Along with it, its block and attack improved to clinch the issue.

BPCL ousts KSEB

On Friday night, defending champion BPCL (Kochi) overcame a slow start to turn things around and sail to a four-set win over KSEB.

The results: Men: KSEB (Tvm) bt Indian Bank (Chn) 25-20, 22-25, 25-18, 25-18, BPCL (Kochi) bt KSEB (Tvm) 24-26, 25-18, 29-27, 25-11.

Women: SAI-KSEB (Tvm) bt C. Rly (Mumbai) 16-25,25-22, 22-25, 25-12, 15-13.