Seychelles Volleyball Federation (SVF) Cup finals-Arsu accomplish double, Racing Club dethrone Beau Vallon |20 October 2008

The men’s title is in Racing Club’s possession after they dispossessed last year’s winners Beau Vallon in a nail-biting 96-minute five-setter.

With left-handed main attacker Marie-Claude Laurence rediscovering her killer instinct and combining well with Nathalie Domingue in attack, Cascade made known their intention early with a 25-19 21-minute first-set win.

Arsu responded to level matters at 1-1 – winning the second set 25-10 in 20 minutes. League champions Arsu looked like cruising to a third-set win when they led 17-10, but Cascade bridged the seven-point gap to equalise at 20-20 before winning 25-22.

Cascade were a set away from victory, but Arsu chose the right time to get back into the game – staying ahead all along to win the fourth set 25-18.

They had no trouble putting an end to 105 minutes of play, winning the fifth 15-7.
Arsu’s skipper Jerina Bonne said: “It’s nice to accomplish another double. We now look forward to get ready for the Indian Ocean Club Championship.”

In the men’s final, which started almost 90 minutes later than the scheduled time of 6.30pm, Racing Club made sure Beau Vallon relinquished all the titles they won in an all-conquering 2007 season.

After losing the Men’s Division One title to Premium Spikers, Beau Vallon wanted to prove that they can still win and they claimed the first set 25-20.

It was as if they had started playing with fire as Racing Club, who got most of their points through strong attacks by Seychelles spiker Tony Songor, won the second and third sets 25-17 and 25-23.

Again Beau Vallon played some good volleyball to level at two sets all (2-2) with a 25-18 fourth-set win.

But it was no denying Racing Club the SVF Cup as they forced their way back into the game in the fifth set when trailing to eventually win 15-13.

Having claimed the scalps of league winners Premium Spikers in the semifinal, Racing Club through Daniel Rose said: “It was a tough year for us in the league. But after beating league champions Premium Spikers in the semifinals, we knew we would get a win against league runners-up Beau Vallon in the final. Nothing could stop us and we’ve done it.”

 G. G.