Jakarta sweeps volleyball c'ships

Jakarta sweeps volleyball c'ships

JAKARTA (JP): Host Jakarta grabbed both the men's and women's
titles at the 2001 interchapter national volleyball
championships, defeating West Java in the finals on Sunday at the
basketball hall of the Bung Karno Sports Complex.

The Jakarta men's team won the first set 25-23 but slipped up
in the second set, losing 26-24. The home team, supported by
nearly 3,000 spectators, bounced back to win the third set 25-
20.

But the visitors kept the pressure on in walking away with the
fourth set 25-12. The play of West Java's Minar Rohman was key in
the fourth set, as he scored on a number of vicious spikes to
keep his side's hopes alive.

As the set began to get away from them, Jakarta seemed to give
up on the set, choosing to conserve their energy for the deciding
fifth set.

In the decider, a refreshed Jakarta romped to a 15-10 win and
the men's title.

In the women's final, host Jakarta defeated crowd favorite
West Java 3-1 (25-20, 16-25, 25-23, 25-19).

Jakarta began the first set a little shakily, but still
managed to hang on for the win. In the second set, the visitor
showed off its power and equaled match at 1-1.

In the third set, West Java played tenaciously but Jakarta was
able to shake them in the end, winning 25-23. The effort appeared
to have sapped the strength from West Java, and Jakarta walked
away with the title with a 25-19 victory in the fourth set.

"Setter Rita Kurniawati was quite nervous in the first two
sets so we had some problems. But she was able to improve her
play and motivate the other players," Jakarta's coach Budianto
said after the match.

"My players, especially Inna Mayrina and Meila Sugianto, were
also able to effectively block the West Java players," he added.

West Java coach Yun Yun Y. pointed to a lack of physical
conditioning as the reason for his team's defeat.

"My players were exhausted following their semifinals match
against East Java, when they had to play five sets on Saturday.
All they had left was their fighting spirit.

"On the other hand, Jakarta won their semifinals match 3-0,
allowing them to save more energy. My players were unable to
follow my instructions because they were exhausted," he said.

Earlier in the afternoon, the East Java teams outclassed
Yogyakarta to take third place in both the men's and women's
divisions.

In the men's division, East Java defeated Yogyakarta 25-19,
25-23, 25-21, while in the women's division East Java enjoyed a
25-9, 25-23, 25-21 victory. (nvn)