Volleyball: SRM rallies to overcome Panimalar in P John Memorial Trophy league match

The defending champion came from behind to register a 22-25, 25-19, 25-15, 25-19 victory over Panimalar in the only Group A match of the tournament in the men’s category. Despite losing, Panimalar is through to the quarter-finals as the group consists of only two teams.

SRM will face the second-placed team from Group C while Panimalar will square off against Group C topper in the final-8. Panimalar maintained a two-point advantage for the majority of the first set and eventually won 25-22.

SRM came back strongly in the contest, notching up a two-point lead near the half-way mark in the second set with the scoreline at 13-11.

The gap only widened as the set progressed and SRM had it easy to wrap up the set by a margin of six points.

In the third set, the match was evenly poised with both teams not allowing a lead of more than one point against each other. SRM’s No.1 Sathrian was on fire, managing to pull off excellent smashes to collect crucial points. The blockers also played their part near the net to set up a series of points, with SRM leading the set at 20-14. SRM bagged the third set at 25-15.

The winner got off to a flying start in the fourth set, which turned out to the final set of the match, leading it 5-1 during the initial stages. Panimalar clawed its way back, reducing the deficit to just one point, with the scores reading 9-8 in favour of SRM.

The set then tilted in favour of SRM as it held a six-point lead at 20-14, closing the proceedings at 25-19.

In the women’s category, South Central Railway beat Kerala Police 25-21, 25-18, 25-22. In another encounter, Tamil Nadu Youth got the better of Southern Railway with a scoreline of 25-15, 8-25, 25-16, 25-23.

On Wednesday, Integral Coach Factory men defeated St Jospeh’s 39-37, 23-25, 25-21, 30-28 in a match which lasted 110 minutes.

MEN: SRM University beat Panimalar 22-25, 25-19, 25-15, 25-19; Integral Coach Factory beat St Joseph’s 39-37, 23-25, 25-21, 30-28.

WOMEN: South Central Railway beat Kerala Police 25-21, 25-18, 25-22; Tamil Nadu Youth beat Southern Railway 25-15, 8-25, 25-16, 25-23.