CAVB Women’s African Volleyball Club Championship |16 May 2023
Arsu exact revenge on Quatre Bornes
Revenge is sweet! Arsu lost twice to Quatre Bornes Volleyball Club of Mauritius in the Confederation of African Volleyball Zone 7 Indian Ocean Club Championship including in the final, but on Sunday they exacted revenge on the Mauritian outfit.
Playing their second pool A match of the Confederation of African Volleyball (CAVB) Women’s African Volleyball Club Championship in Nabeul, Tunisia, Arsu, captained by veteran Jerina Bonne, registered their first win in the competition by beating Quatre Bornes Volleyball Club 3-1.
According to the CAVB online platform, Arsu enjoyed a good run of serves to put them ahead of Quatre Bornes VBC in the first set and errors by their opponents helped them to win the opening set 25-17.
Quatre Bornes VBC came out for the second set with renewed hope and their attackers beat the Arsu blockers with some excellent spikes. A run of five points coupled with two hitting errors from Arsu brought Quatre Bornes VBC back into the set and in the end, they won it 25-17 to pull level at one set apiece (1-1).
In the third set, Arsu established an early lead and then extended it significantly with some good attacks and serves. Although Quatre Bornes VBC came back late in the set with a number of points, it was not enough as Arsu took the third set 25-23 for a 2-1 lead.
With only one set away from a victory and a chance to avenge their 2-3 loss to Quatre Bornes VBC in the CAVB Zone 7 Indian Ocean Club Championship final in Mauritius earlier this year, Arsu had to work hard and trade points with their opponents before finally winning the set 28-26 and the match 3-1.
“We were determined for the win and we fought hard to achieve it,” Marielle Bonne told Sports NATION yesterday.
This was Arsu’s second match after they lost their first on a 0-3 (15-25, 15-25, 11-25) score last Friday against hosts team Carthage of Tunisia. They will meet AJD Diorfior of Senegal in their third and last group A today.
“We will be going all out to beat AJD Diorfior today to stay in the competition,” added Bonne.
Arsu beefed up their squad ahead of their departure to Tunisia to increase their chances of making a good run in the competition. They recruited rapid attacker Petra Richard and Melina Crispin from Cascade and Dania Haoreau from Mont Fleuri, along with Petrina Victor and Catrina Simon from Mont Fleuri who also accompanied the team to Mauritius in March for the CAVB Zone 7 Indian Ocean Club Championship.The other players on the Arsu team coached by Frenchman Olivier Sauer are Jerina Bonne (captain), Marielle Bonne, Marie-Helene Rose, Matty Molta, Mary-Ella Raoul, Melissa Rambony and Edwige Kossenda Konwa.
The officials are Jourdanne D’Offay (team manager), Marc d’Offay (team president), Kenneth Annette (trainer), Christopher Finesse, Eloja Albert and Charles Ernesta (members of management).
Seychelles is also being represented by referee Michael Ah-kong.
Meanwhile, Carthage of Tunisia made it two wins in as many games on Sunday when they collected at 3-0 (25-14, 25-18, 25-21) win against AJD Diorfior of Senegal who had also lost their first game 0-3 (14-25, 18-25, 21-25) to Quatre Bornes Volleyball Club of Mauritius.
Altogether, 16 teams are taking part in the women’s championship and they have been drawn into four groups of four teams each. Kenya Commercial Bank are the defending champions, while Egyptian giants Al Ahly are also vying to defend their title in the men's competition which is taking place at the same time.
Gerard Govinden