Senanayake Central - boys under 18 volleyball champs

Yasaratne GAMAGE

Senanayake Central College , Madampe emerged boys’ under 18 champions in the 13th DSI Super Sport Schools Volleyball Championships 2011 while Anamaduwa Central College won the under 18 girls trophy at Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium on Saturday.

Senanayake Central also won the under 16 boys’ championship at the grand finals on the same day. Vijayaba Central College, Hungama emerged champions in the under 12 boy’s category while Kendepola Vidyalaya , Rakwana grabbed the girls’ trophy in the same age category at the same venue.

S Thamel of Senanayake Central College was adjudged the best player of the tournament and W D Wasana of Anamaduwa Central College won the best player in the girls category.

In the under 18 boys finals it was exactly the other way what happened last year the very same two teams battled this year but Senanayakas taking revenge in a game that lasted to its full length to defeat the defending champions by 3-2 against their rivals , Dammissara Central College, Nattandiya. Senanayake having won the first two sets by 25-23 and 25-21 received an unprecedented reply by Dhammissara Central who took away the other consecutive sets by 25-20 and 25-15. The last set took hold every breath as both teams had given each other an arduous challenge but it was Senanayake finished it by 15-12.

Senanayake Central continued their dominance of the boys’ under 16 trophy when they defeated Davisamara Central College, Seeduwa by 3-2 in a fierce battle that lasted its full distance.

Davisamara Central won the first set by 25-22 but lost the other two sets by 12-25 and 13-25 .

But they came back really well in the fourth set to defeat Senanayake Central by 25-23. By then the game was on and Davisamara started the fifth set with some quick points. Senanayake soon took control of the game until they were tied at 15-15.

However with timely wiping and line attacking Senanayake went on to beat Davisamara by 18-16 to defend their title.

Vijayaba National School, Hungama had to fight all the way to overcome Gaminiwewa Vidyalaya, Medawachchiya in the under 12 boys’ final. Having lost the first set Gaminiwewa team came back in the second set to make it 1-1 but it was Vijayaba who succeeded in the third set.

Kendepola Central had no reason to give their title in the girls under 12 final and they comprehensively beat Dhammissara Central in the first two sets to retain as the champions .

Senanayake Central and Kendepola Vidyalaya dominated this year tournament by winning double championships.