Volleyball champs cruise

By LESLIE OMARO
TATANA and NDCVA Open men’s teams are on track for a spot in the finals of the Digicel National Volleyball Championships after impressive performances on day one in Port Moresby yesterday.
And the two teams look like title contenders.
Defending champions VAVA (Vabukori Amateur Volleyball Association) in Pool A cruised through their opening two matches without raising a sweat.
The title holders crushed Kiunga 3-0 in their first game then sent Lower Sogeri packing by the same score in another walk-over.
Tatana with Garry Udia and Richard Batari leading their campaign demolished VAVA’s second string team in a powerful display at Vabukori village.
Tatana crushed VAVA (2) 3-0 and served Moukele with the same set score line in pool C.
Tatana coach Udia Opa was very happy with the results and said their aim was to win all their pool matches and play in the semi-finals tomorrow.
NCDVA led by international George David also had a field day crushing debutants Koiari 3-0 as well as Lakwaharu from Tubusereia in their pool D matches at Gerehu.
Koiari led by skipper Toua Geita and spiker Bobby Bore Jr were also beaten by Fairfax 3-0 but made up for that with a hard fought 3-1 win over Sohe.
Today’s matches are crucial as they will determine the top two teams from all pools including open women, U21 men and women.
The teams finishing in those placing will qualify for a spot in the playoffs tomorrow.
The grand final schedule for Sunday at Taurama Leisure Centre (TLC) will have the U21 women’s final at 9am followed by the U21 men’s at 11am and open women’s final at 1pm.
The open men’s grand final will begin at 3pm followed by the presentation.
Results from day one at TLC: Taikone beatKoiari 3-0 (open women), Fairfax beat Lower Sogeri 3-0 (open men), NCDVA beat Lakwaharu 3-0 (U21 men), Tatana beat Huon Gulf 3-1 (U21 women), VAVA Gold beat  Kiunga 3-0 (open men), Huon Gulf beat Koiari 3-0 (U21 men), Huon Gulf forfeited Lakwaharu (open men), Fairfax forfeited Tatana 2 (open women), Tatana 1 beat Huon Gulf 3-1 (U21 women), NCDVA1 beat Huon Gulf 3-0 (U21 men), Fairfax beat VAVA 3-0 (U21 men), Huon Gulf beat Kiunga 3-0 (open men), Fairfax Taikone 3-2, NCDVA1 beat Koiari 3-0 (U21 men), VAVA Gold beat Lower Sogeri 3-0 (open men), NCDVA beat Fairfax 3-1, Fairfax beat Kiunga 3-0 (open men), Huon beat Koiari 3-0 (U21 women), NCDVA beat Koiari 3-2.
At Vabukori Tatana women forfeited Madang and beat Moukele 3-1.
Meanwhile, the PNG Volleyball Federation annual general meeting will be held tomorrow at the Shady Rest Hotel.