Sri Lanka Army SC were crowned champions in both the Men’s and Women’s Super League in the 30th Tharuna Sewa – Rupavahini Challenge Trophy tournament organized by the Sri Lanka Youth Federation, along with Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation and Sri Lanka Volleyball Federation at the National Youth Services Indoor Stadium, Maharagama.
Women’s Super League
The finals of the women’s tournament saw two reputed teams in Navy SC and the Army SC go head to head.
It was the Navy team that came out stronger in the first set, displaying much more intensity than in the previous Munchee National Volleyball Championship. This was evidently shown by players in the form of Dhilka Perera and captain, Nilanthika Sanjeewani. Furthermore, the smart plays earned Navy the first set with a score line of 25-20.
But Army regained the offensive with Thilini Wasana, Chandani Wasanthi, and Ayesha Madhurika as they pounced over their Navy counterparts in the second set with a score line of 19-25.
Navy stepped up their game in the third set with Kasuni Lakshani and Sanjeewani as they always kept the score line neck and neck, up until the latter stages when Chandani of the Army team displayed a heroic effort with some great rallies finally winning the third set 21-25 for Army.
Navy, however, did not back down as they kept knocking on the doors of the Army team which made the Army team stay on their toes. But it was inevitable as Thilini Wasana and Ayesha of Army displayed great technique and anticipation during the course of the match which eventually earned the Army team the fourth set with a score line of 20-25, thus winning the match.
This result crowned Army SC Super League Champions of the Tharuna Sewa – Rupavahini Volleyball tournament, in the women’s category.
Final Score: Army SC 20/25, 25/19, 25/21 & 25/20 Navy SC
Awards
Best Server – K.U.G.A Wasanthi (Army SC)
Best Receiver – Thilini Wasana (Army SC)
Best Setter – K.Thilini Shirmila (Army SC)
Best Attacker – Nilanthika Sanjeewani (Navy SC)
Best Defender – Ayesha Madhurika (Army SC)
Best Libero – Sanjeewani Menuka (Navy SC)
Best Player – Thilini Wasana (Army SC)
Moragalla & Thoduwawa Youth take Challenge Trophy
Moragalla Youth and Thoduwawa Youth bagged the Men’s and Women’s Novices Challenge Trophies…
Men’s Super League
The men’s final proved to be the most intense final as the two teams, Army and the Ceylon Electricity’s Board (CEB) teams battled against one another in an enthralling five sets.
It was a neck and neck battle from the initial stages. However, Army, with G. Mahesh, Dhilina Sudhara, and Lasindu Methmal, narrowly edged the CEB winning the first set 25-20.
The second set saw a much more resilient Army team as they pounced over their opponents with a score line of 25-17.
The third set saw a dramatic turn of events unfold as the CEB team came back with great rallies from the likes of Deepthi Romesh and Tharindu Lakmal which spearheaded the team to win the set 21-25.
The fourth set saw the continuation of the CEB comeback even though Army played with a greater intensity. The heroic efforts of Deepthi Romesh proved why he was the captain of the CEB team as he psychologically gave new life to his team that won the fourth set 27-25.
It was neck and neck battle in the fifth set as both teams were on equal terms until the score line read 10-10. It was then Wasantha Lakmal of Army almost in a single handed manner won 5 points that eventually made Army victorious over a stubborn, but unrelenting CEB team.
Final Score: Army SC 25-20, 25-17, 21-25, 25-27, 15-10 CEB
Awards
Best Server – Sandun Wimalasena (CEB)
Best Receiver – Dulara Chandrasena (CEB)
Best Setter – W.G.Mahesh (Army SC)
Best Attacker – Deepthi Romesh (CEB)
Best Defender – Wasantha Lakmal (Army SC)
Best Libero – Madusha Wickramasinghe (Army SC)
Best Player – Methmal Wasanthapriya (Army SC)
