Volleyball: National League - Arsu win women’s title as Praslin Girls seal IOCC qualification |21 August 2017
While football fans were busy witnessing a top-of-the-table match at Stad Linite, a piece of history was being written at the Palais des Sports. While a 3-1 win for Arsu over Cascade sealed a third consecutive league triumph, the result also meant that for the very first time, Seychelles will be represented by a team from Praslin at the CAVB Zone 7 Indian Ocean Club Championships later this year.
The match between Arsu and Cascade itself was one that could have changed the final league standings in many ways, but the main thing for both sides, was that they needed to win at all cost.
The contest began with both sides looking to win the opening set and the scores remained tight throughout, with the lead changing hands numerous times. At one point, Arsu led 19-16, but Cascade scored three unanswered points to level matters and soon they were level again at 22-22. Cascade showed more resilience against a surprisingly sometimes disorganised Arsu side and won the first set 25-22.
In the second set, things were very different for both teams are Arsu capitalised on Cascade’s mistakes and made their attacks count and soon they were 12-5 up. Arsu, who had given a debut to newly recruited Kenyan international setter Jane Wacu, were largely dominant here, increasing their lead to 19-8 and did not look back as they won the set 25-13, taking the score to 1-1.
Cascade managed to get back their composure for the third set where they raced into an 8-3 lead before Arsu began to claw their way back. Arsu took the lead for the first time in this set when they scored four points in a row to get in front on a 17-16 score. From there, the girls of coach Julien Onezime did not look back as they won 25-22, despite seeing star player Marielle Bonne struggle with an injury late on in this set.
By the fourth set, it looked like Cascade had lost all the fight left in them as they conceded too many errors and Arsu played with confidence. Arsu led 17-4 at one point and despite Cascade trying to force a few points here and there, it was all just too late as the Anse Royale-based team won 25-12 to seal a 3-1 victory and with it the 2017 league title.
“As you saw, in the first set we were a bit disorganised, but we got back and played better than our opponents and got the win,” said Arsu captain Jerina Bonne after the match.
She added: “As is the case every year, we want to win every competition we play in and this year is no different and so we will be playing to win the knockouts now.”
Arsu’s win brought their number of championship wins to 17 – 1992, 1993, 1994, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2015, 2016 and 2017.
The result means Arsu end the season with 32 points, while Cascade have finished in an unfamiliar third place this season with 29 points and miss out on the IOCC.
That honour will now fall to a Praslin side for the first time in history as Praslin Girls are the team who have finished the league in second place with 30 points after their 3-0 (25-14, 27-25, 25-13) win over La Digue Island Star in Saturday’s earlier game.
In a league that has been dominated by Cascade and Arsu in recent time, barring a brief threat from Friends, to have a side from outside the main island of Mahé break the mould is truly an outstanding achievement from Praslin Girls, although it remains to be seen whether they can challenge for the knockout trophies this season.
“It is a very big honour for us as we come from outside the main island,” said Praslin Girls setter Avrille Hoareau.
She added: “We want to go hard into training although we are not sure yet if we will compete in both knockout tournaments held by the federation due to financial difficulties, but if we do manage to get some sponsors it will be great for us as it will also help us to prepare for the IOCC.”
S. N.