Kochi Blue Spikers loses the thriller

Hyderabad: It really was a fairytale with lots of twists and turns, it's a pity that one team ends up losing. In one of the most dramatic matches in professional volleyball, the hearts of Kochi Blue Spikers were broken again as the Bangalore Torpedos snatched up a sensational victory from the jaws of defeat in their opening campaign at the Prime Volley ball League. The Torpedoes won (14-15, 12-15,15-13,15-9,15-14) in the most dramatic fashion by securing the final point when the scores are level at 14 all in the final set.

The first set itself was the curtain raiser for the pulsating match. Bangalore began swiftly by capitalising mistakes by Kochi and quickly reached the set point. When Deepesh Sinha was about to serve for the Kochi Blue Spikers at 7-14, Coach M.H. Kumara made a last second tactic by introducing Sethu. Sethu began with a Jump serve and wins the point.

He ended only with his team winning the first set in the most daring way. In between, he served an Ace enabling the Kochi Blue Spikers winning the last 8 straight points to win the set 15-14. That was the beginning, and Kochi won the second set on the back of the confidence.

However, a little complacency caught up with them as they surrendered the third set from a winning position, Bangalore took the fourth to force the fifth and final set, but it was the Blue Spikers began it with a bang as they won the first four points of the set. They led most of the set until Bangalore took a super point, trailing 9-13. Kochi could have won the set and match with that point, but Bangalore somehow managed to win the point to make it 11-13.

They have won two more points to tie at 13-13 and then extend the lead to reach match point. Kochi came back and won a point to make it to match point for both the teams. Abdul Raheem was the server for Kochi and he was forced to serve a normal one fearing an error that could end the game. Bangalore somehow wins the last point after a rally to seal the match and took two points.

For Kochi, their attack and blocking improved while their first pass remains a problem and that really is the difference between these two teams. Bangalore's receivers managed to pass fairly well to the setter, even from powerful Kochi serves, while Kochi's receivers faulted even from simple opposition serves. However, team Kochi showed their fighting spirits and can only hope for the better in the remaining matches.