Volleyball: National League-Premium Spikers, Friends win in contrasting styles |10 September 2012

Premium Spikers and Friends not only won the men’s and women’s division one title deciders, they also retained the titles won in 2010. There was no league championship last year.

Entering the match with 21 points to their name and a set score difference of +17 – 21 for and four against – Premium Spikers needed only two sets to secure the title and the task seemed out of hand as they lost the first two sets of Saturday’s game at the Palais des Sports.

With Danny Laramé playing at his best and finishing off all of his team’s attacks, Beau Vallon clinched the first set 25-23 before winning the second 25-21.

Premium Spikers were in trouble and the title was slowly slipping out of their hands. But captain Jean-Paul Lepathy and company started the third set with a different approach, bringing new plays to their game. Their effort paid off as they won the set 25-22, cutting out Beau Vallon’s lead to only one set. With the engine rolling, Premium Spikers clinched the fourth set 25-22 to level the match at two sets apiece. Already champions at his stage, the Spikers’ entourage invaded the court in celebration.

Not content with winning the title on set difference, the boys of coach Bernard Denis gunned down Beau Vallon in the decisive fifth set which they largely won 15-5 for a 3-2 win.
Premium Spikers ended the season with a maximum 24 points from eight wins in as many matches. They have 24 sets for and six against.

Beau Vallon, on the other hand, have one more match left and are presently second on 17 points from five wins and two losses. They have 19 sets for and nine against.

In the women’s league, Friends claimed the championship with a 3-1 win over rivals Cascade – the only team to have beaten them in the league.

Friends won the first set 27-25 before Cascade levelled the match by winning the second 25-23. More eager to win, Friends pushed forward in the third and fourth sets which they won 25-18 and 25-23 to win the match 3-1 and claim the league title.

Friends ended their league campaign on 40 points with 41 sets for and nine against. They have collected 13 wins and a single loss.

As for Cascade, they are the league’s runners-up, despite having one match remaining to play. They are presently on 35 points after 11 wins and two defeats.

R. D.