Kochi Blue Spikers’ Abhinav goes for a smash within the match in opposition to Mumbai Meteors within the Prime Volleyball League Championship in Kochi, Kerala, on March 01, 2023.
| Photo Credit: H. VIBHU
They didn’t make it to the playoffs however Kochi Blue Spikers did Olympian David Lee and his crew Bengaluru Torpedoes a enormous favour by thrashing Mumbai Meteors 4-1 within the Prime Volleyball League on the Rajiv Gandhi indoor stadium on Wednesday.
Mumbai wanted to win 5-0 to seize a semifinal spot and Kochi’s victory noticed Bengaluru take the final out there berth and be part of Ahmedabad Defenders, Kolkata Thunderbolts and Calicut Heroes.
On a day when tremendous factors and tremendous serves introduced in some unusual twists and turns, all of the items of the puzzle fell in properly for Kochi.
The day additionally worldwide Rohit Kumar, the PVL’s costliest participant, discover his contact and the attacker was at his finest within the second set the place he helped Kochi to a 11-6 lead which made the crew breathe simple. Rohit had been benched for a main a part of the earlier match however at the moment, other than his fiery smashes from the center, he additionally served an ace which introduced two factors beneath the PVL’s particular guidelines.
International Amit Gulia was Mumbai’s key to victory however Kochi locked the star attacker at essential phases with a two-man block, with Shubam Chaudhary taking turns with Brazilian Walter Netto and B.S. Abhinav to do the job.
The dwelling crew’s Erin Varghese, who attacked from the flanks utilizing setter Vipul Kumar’s good lifts, stood out within the first set and within the third, the place Mumbai led 10-7 at one stage, N.Okay. Fayis with an ace serve introduced Kochi to the doorstep of victory at 14-12.
With Kochi taking a 3-0 lead, the final two units didn’t matter in any respect. Bengaluru completed fourth within the league desk with eight factors whereas Kochi completed seventh with 4 factors from two wins.
The consequence: Kochi Blue Spikers bt Mumbai Meteors 4-1 (15-14, 15-11, 15-12, 12-15, 15-10).
