Women test wits against men

 Patricia Hani’s set play gave direction for the national women’s volleyball team in a trial game against a local Filipino men’s side, squeezing out a 2-2 draw in Port Moresby during the weekend. 

Twenty-one members of the women’s squad in-training took part.

Hani set up 16-year-old spiker, Emily Bae, who combined well with senior teammates Lois Garena, Isa Hicks, Perpetua Awadu and Michel Wallo to outwit their  male opponents. 

Assistant coach Mea Joang said it was the first competitive game for the players after training for the last four months.  He said they chose to play a men’s side for stiff competition. Joang said the players were forced to lift their intensity from the start and work hard for every point but they managed to be competitive throughout.

“I’m pleased they adjusted to the challenge and stayed competitive,” Mea said.

Joang said the team came up with some unforced errors in spiking and serving but the effort was there. 

Result: Set 1 (PNG 16 Filipinos 25), Set 1 (PNG 25 Fililpinos 18), Set 3 (PNG 21 Flipinos 25), Set 4 (PNG 26 Filipinos 24)