Tahiti silence home crowd with big win

 THE Tahitian men’s champion volleyball team silenced the home crowd, beating PNG 3-0 in an entertaining game last night at the Taurama Aquatic Centre. 

In the first set, good support from the home side inspired the Amoa men with some power hits but the Polynesians were quick to read PNG’s tactics and under intense pressure, the Tahitian went on to win the first set 25-22. 

In the second set, it was all Tahiti leading throughout. 

The home side fought back galantly but errors saw them being punished 25-22 again. 

In the third set, both sides scored back-to-back but the Tahitians came out victorious 25-20. 

PNG coaching director Marty Collins admitted that Tahiti was the better side and the boys put up a good challenge. 

“I’ve been saying all along in that Tahiti is going to be a good team,” Collins said. 

“I think we played the crowd and didn’t stick to our game plan against a very good Tahitian side.”  

Despite their loss after big wins over Guam and Solomon Islands, the side will regroup and focus on Fiji and favourites Wallis and Futuna. 

In yesterday’s other results, Wallis and Futuna thrashed Fiji 3-0, Guam defeated the Solomon Islands 3-0, American Samoa beat Nauru 3-0 and New Caledonia took down Tuvalu 3-0.