After performing giant-killing acts against National champion Indian Railways and Punjab, Indian Universities registered its third consecutive win by defeating Uttar Pradesh 26-24, 25-21, 25-20 in the men’s Group B encounter in the 29th Federation Cup volleyball tournament for the Sulochana Trophy here on Tuesday.
With this win, Indian Universities entered the semifinals.
UP, after its inept display against Tamil Nadu in their first match, showed signs of improvement.
With two back-to-back matches in the previous nights, Indian Universities looked a bit jaded. UP, though, did not take full advantage.
Both teams were neck-to-neck in the first set. IU’s R. Angamuthu was brilliant as he defended well and came up with good spikes. Captain Omveer Maan did the same for UP as the score reached 9-9.
Then, IU pulled ahead to make it 21-18. UP fought back to level the score at 24-24, but good smashes by attackers T. Sathriyan and Ramankumar helped IU clinch the first set 26-24.
UP started off well in the second but somehow lost the way in the middle. IU pulled away to make it 17-12. Players from both teams committed errors while serving.
Neat spikes by Nishant Jha and Rajat Choudhary helped UP claw back to make it 17-19. At 21-21, UP’s lack of coordination at the net helped IU win four consecutive points and clinch the second set 25-21.
The third set was trending the same way as the first two with both teams locked at 7-7. Soon, IU made it 14-8 when a couple of successful blocks by Saurabh were followed by good spikes. UP made it 14-15 when Choudhary and Omveer effected precise smashes. Lack of concentration cost UP as it continued to lose crucial points.
IU again lifted its game as Angamuthu continued to spike with clinical precision, making it 21-17. UP tried its best but it was too little, as IU closed out the set and the match at 25-20.
“Players are very hungry to do well and prove themselves so as to get selected for the national team. It is a very young team, so we are very happy to reach the semifinals before Punjab, Indian Railways and Tamil Nadu. We are playing really well. We just need to block better,” said the Indian Universities coach S. Dakshina Moorthy.
The results:
Men: Indian Universities bt Uttar Pradesh 26-24, 25-21, 25-20.
On Monday: Indian Universities bt Punjab 23-25, 25-21, 25-16, 25-18.
Women: Tamil Nadu bt West Bengal 25-16, 25-22, 25-13.