Volleyball: League Championship-Beau Vallon, Premium Spikers, La Digue and Arsu extend unbeaten runs |17 May 2005

With the sport, the only team discipline to have won gold medals for Seychelles at both club and national levels regionally and internationally, still suffering from a low turnout of spectators, the players proved their worth on the court.

La Digue paraded their new recruit – setter Avrille Tirant – the second player after Yvonne Legaie coach Gaëtan William has brought out of semi-retirement. Tirant, who will need some more matches to get back to her usual high standard of play, helped last year’s second division champions La Digue to their third consecutive win on a 3-0 (25-14 25-18 27-25) score after 49 minutes of play against basement team Glacis who lost for the second time in as many matches.

La Digue lead the women’s first division championship table with nine points, three more than third-placed defending champs Arsu who needed 47 minutes to whitewash St Louis Bombers 3-0 (25-16 25-10 25-17) for their second successive win.

Despite losing 0-3 (14-25 22-25 17-25) to their sister team Cascade ‘A’, Cascade ‘B’ stay second on the table with seven points following two wins and a defeat in three games.

Cascade ‘A’ are in sixth position with four points after two matches – a defeat to Arsu and a win.

With Rosemond Morel and Esmée Toussaint taking charge at the net, fifth-placed Agrics came from a set down to beat Anse Royale Youth 3-1 (17-25 25-14 25-19 25-16) in 66 minutes of action.

With 13-year-old Marielle Bonne, daughter of Seychelles captain Jerina Bonne not always getting the right service to send her powerful attacks into Agrics’ half of the court, Anse Royale Youth had to concede defeat, their second in three games.

Beau Vallon lead

Defending men’s first division champions Beau Vallon easily shifted into gears as neighbours Bel Ombre Pirates, with main attacker Leopold Ernesta taking a seat on the substitutes bench, could not put up a notable challenge.

Captain Guilly Bijoux’s Beau Vallon, Indian Ocean Club Championship (IOCC) winners here in December last year, won the match 3-0 (25-19 25-22 25-17) inside an hour to bring to three their number of wins for maximum nine points.

Still without injured Jean- Paul Ah-kong, Premium Spikers lost rapid attacker Jude Federick with a sprained ankle in the 3-2 (25-14 25-20 20-25 26-24) defeat of United Brothers coached by James Camille.

Coach Bernard Denis’ Premium Spikers are currently occupying the runners-up spot with nine points after three wins like leaders Beau Vallon.

Third-placed Racing Club stayed in the title race by returning to winning ways with a 3-0 (25-22 25-16 25-21) triumph against St Louis who had in their last match come from two sets down to beat Bel Ombre Pirates.

Roots celebrated victory for the first time this season with a five-set (25-9 14-25 25-15 26-28 15-10) win over winless 2004 second division champions La Digue who fielded Kenyan teacher Odhiambo Habakuk Otieno.

In the women’s second division, United Sisters, who gifted La Digue the title last year, look capable of making the grade to the higher division next season after checking rivals SMB’s four-game unbeaten run and at the same time extending theirs to four.

Under the guidance of coach Camille, who told Sports Nation that he remains fully committed to Arsu but feels the need to help other teams progress both technically and tactically, United Sisters needed five sets to beat SMB 25-19 19-25 23-25 25-18 15-10 in a pulsating match which lasted 93 minutes.

Captained by Sorline Camille, the wife of coach Camille, United Sisters have 12 points, one less than runners-up SMB who have played a match more.

After a disastrous start to the championship when they lost to both SMB and United Sisters in their first two games, Magpie Robins, relegated to the lower division at the end of last season, have been going strong in recent weeks and they collected their fourth consecutive win last week.

In action on Saturday and Sunday, the Praslin-based team defeated Juniors 3-0 (26-24 25-17 25-21) and Santa West 3-1 (25-8 25-19 22-25 25-20) to bring their points tally to 14 out of a possible 18 to lead the 11-team table.

In the other women’s second division match, fourth-placed RC United edged LMS Sisters 3-2 (25-17 20-25 28-26 21-25 15-12).

Pointe Larue continue to lead the men’s second division standings following their 3-1 (19-25 25-21 27-25 25-21) win against Anse Royale who occupy sixth place with seven points. Unbeaten Pointe Larue have 12 points after four consecutive victories.

Three other men’s second division games were played over the weekened. Anse Boileau beat Baie Lazare 3-0 (25-17 25-20 25-18), Takamaka defeated Plaisance 3-1 (25-27 25-22 25-17 33-31) and Outsiders edged Juniors 3-2 (25-18 22-25 25-19 23-25 15-12).

G. G.