Sierra Leone hosts inter-regional indoor and beach volleyball tournament – Volleyball news
The Sierra Leone Volleyball Association (SLVA) recently organised a tournament by the name of “Volleyball for Peace.”
The inter-regional indoor/ beach volleyball competition took place in Bo town, Sierra Leone from March 23-25 and teams from all across the country participated. Western Area teams of Sierra Leone topped both categories of the beach volleyball tournament,
while the hosts Southern Areas teams failed to prove their endeavours.
Elsewhere, Northern Region downed the Eastern Region and settled for second spot in the standings.
On the opening day of the tournament, Southern Region team came into competition with
two-time champions the Western Area team. Both teams played with great energy and demonstrated their skills to win the match. However, it turned out to be long gruelling battle that spanned over five sets.
The first set of the match featured an incredibly close competition. The hosts had the advantage of playing under familiar conditions and tried to use the competitive edge. Nonetheless, the Western region team was also prepared for a hard knock. They did
not show any sign of intimidation and displayed a wonderful game. The two teams exchanged long rallies and score shifted up with close intervals. The spectators enjoyed the extreme action of volleyball and cheered at both teams. Eventually, home squad managed
to achieve set points (25-23) and went on front with 1-0.
The hosts carried the momentum into following set and continued with hard-hitting. With better combination of attack and defence, they dominated second set and pulled off success by sending 25-15 on board. Southern region extended its lead to 2-0 and seemed
totally shaped up to finish the game in three sets.
Nonetheless, the visiting West region team made a comeback in the third set. They put up a combined effort and managed to come out of trouble. Gradually, the team got its full form back and devastated the defence line of Southern region squad. Despite utmost
resistance, hosts could not stop the visitors to claim third set with final score of 25-17.
It was the jumpstart for Western region as the team never looked back after winning third set. They used different tactics and create the deadlock of 2-2 by winning fourth set, 25-18. Southern region was flabbergasted with sudden change in the game. They
could not sustain the pressure and dropped final set of the game, which allowed Western team to celebrate victory.
Later on, the Western Area women’s team defeated the Southern Region counterparts in straight sets 3-0 (25-18, 25-17, 25-18). In other matches of day-1, Northern Region men’s team went against Eastern Region and claimed 3-0 (25-19,25-18,27-25) victory.
Quite similarly, Northern region ladies repeated the feat in three straight sets (25-23, 25-17, 25-13).
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