Volleyball: National leagues - Cascade power past Arsu |03 August 2016

Cascade have the edge over rivals and defending champions Arsu after picking up a hard-fought win against them during the weekend in the women’s division one.

After taking the first set, the Cascadians looked like losing as they dropped the second and third sets, but they recovered in time to win the match 3-2 (25-18, 19-25, 21-25, 25-18, 15-12) at the Palais des Sports to extend their unbeaten record and maintain first place in the standings.

Under the guidance of coach Gaetan William, Cascade, who had won all their previous matches on 3-0 scores, won the first set 25-18.

Arsu, coached by Julien Onezime and who have a record of getting back in games when trailing, did just that as they bounced back to take the second set 25-19 followed by the third 25-21. At this point, Cascade, who had already dropped sets for the first time in the league this year, did not want to lose the 100% win record and they came back stronger in the fourth set to win it 25-18 to set up a decisive fifth set.

It proved to be a tough one for both teams as they battled to show their superiority over each other and in the end it was Cascade who came out on top to win the set 15-12 and the game 3-2.

Cascade’s rapid attacker Petra Richard said it was a relief to have won the match because her “team had lost concentration and the players tended to lose confidence when Arsu took the second and third sets. We managed to put things together in time and win. The game could have gone either way.”

Arsu captain Jerina Bonne insisted that if it was not for some mistakes in her team’s defence and reception, the match would have been Arsu’s.

“The match was not tough. We will work on our mistakes and be ready for the second-round match-up,” she said.

In another women’s first division match played on Praslin, Praslin Girls beat La Digue Warriors 3-0 (26-24, 25-12, 25-14).

In the women’s second division, Mont Fleuri beat Bel Ombre 3-1 (25-16, 16-25, 25-11, 25-19), Island Pearls whitewashed Anse Aux Pins Sisters 3-0 (25-16, 25-18, 25-18) and Port Glaud edged St Louis Bombers 3-2 (25-22, 20-25, 15-25, 25-16, 15-11).

Arsu Boys beat Racing Club 3-0 (25-20, 25-20, 25-19), Premium Spikers defeated Neo Boys 3-0 (25-14, 25-18, 25-13) and Beau Vallon beat Under-24 3-0 (25-17, 25-14, 25-22) in three men’s top division matches.

In the men’s division two, Outsiders beat La Digue 3-2 (17-25, 25-20, 25-23, 13-25, 15-8), La Digue beat Neo Boys Juniors 3-0 (25-8, 25-18, 25-23) and Swim Blue Pals beat Constance Ephelia 3-0 (25-9, 25-10, 25-11).

P. J.