Volleyball: League championship-Arsu sweep Cascade for 10th championship title |07 September 2004

A 3-1 (25-21 25-16 24-26 26-24) win after 81 minutes of action helped Arsu sweep their match-up against the Cascadians in the two-round first division league championship.

“We are already league champions as we are confident of winning our remaining four league matches. Defeat does not exist in our vocabulary, and every time we come down to play, we only think of victory. Today (Sunday), we expected a 3-0 win, but Cascade put up some resistance to grab a set after we took things too easy in the third set,” said Arsu’s veteran captain Marie-Ange Bouchereau, who is 38 years old on Tuesday and remains a pillar in a sport she has helped write its beautiful history on the international scene.

Even though the level of play was not up to the standard, the match had glimpses of quality volleyball usually on show at the Palais des Sports when the two giants meet.

“I have to congratulate Arsu on winning another league title and we have to accept finishing as runners-up, meaning that we qualify for the Indian Ocean Club Championship. Today’s (Sunday) match was very good but I feel that the level of the game has regressed. On the other hand, I believe that Seychelles’ women’s volleyball will remain a force to be reckoned with in the region as we have some very good young players coming up,” said Cascade’s skipper Annie Dugasse.

In other women’s first division action, Glacis snatched only their second league victory on a 3-1 (23-25 25-14 28-26 25-23) score to move into sixth place in the eight-team standings, while Cascade ‘B’ are in fourth position after edging Agrics 3-2 (21-25 25-20 25-15 15-25 15-8).

In the men’s first division, Premium Spikers rallied from two sets down to beat Racing Club 3-2 (21-25 14-25 30-28 25-15 19-9) to consolidate first place in the eight-team standings.

Fourth-placed United Brothers defeated Bel Ombre Pirates 3-1 (24-26 25-21 25-17 25-21) and Roots whitewashed RC United 3-0 (25-22 25-17 25-12).

In the women’s second division league, leaders SMB trounced Cadettes 3-0 (25-16 25-19 25-9) and Santa West edged LMS Sisters 3-2 (23-25 25-20 25-13 18-25 15-12).

Five men’s division two matches were also played over the weekend. Second-placed La Digue upset leaders Pointe Larue 3-2 (25-14 18-25 25-18 17-25 16-14) and Outsiders 3-2 (23-25 25-18 19-25 25-17 15-13), Anse Boileau blanked Anse Royale 3-0 (25-12 25-15 25-23), Outsiders edged PLS Squad 3-2 (25-18 21-25 25-13 21-25 15-10) and Juniors beat Cadets 3-1 (25-18 25-15 22-25 25-23).

G. G.