Patriots too powerful

0PATRIOTS proved that their 3-2 victory over Grasshoppers in the first round was no fluke when they powered their way to give the green machine the same dosage last Saturday in the NCD Volleyball Association women’s premier division competition at Taurama Leisure Centre (TLC) volleyball courts.
However, their men were not lucky after Snipers nailed them in straight sets, 3-0.
After claiming victory in straight sets over Scorpions the previous weekend, a new-look Patriots’ line-up are on fire again and sent a strong message to other teams in women’s premier division that they will be a team to be reckon with in the second round.
Setter Brenda Sevese, hitter/blocker, Jennifer Laka and outside hitter Kila Oki laid the foundation in both defence and attack for their victory, while Yvonne Vavine and Miriam Kawaso provided the support.
From the start, the reception was good, Sevese’s sets finding the targets while hitters Oki and Laka continued pounding from the outside and converted the killer blows to give Patriots the first two sets.
Hoppers identified Patriots’ weakness and re-organised their offence in the third set, with playmaker Priscilla Lopena concentrating her sets in the middle court to allow Joyce Kambori and Josephine Isaro a fest of kills, as the Hohola women levelled the game 2-2 and forced the match into a tie-breaker.
And again, smart coaching by Patriots counter-attacked that saw Laka shifting to block work very to their advantage as Patriots pulled off the decider and the match 3-2.
In the other women’s results, U-Mi Yet maintained their unbeaten run, nailing YWCA 3-0, Scorpions beat Pom Tech 3-2 and Vailima edged Ulamagi 3-2.
On the men’s court, Scorpions maintained their top placing, thrashing Ulamagi 3-1, U-Mi Yet beat Kawaso 3-0 and Grasshoppers ended Vailima’s three-match winning run, defeating them in straight sets.