Spike challenge

Murtoa Railway and the Piccolo Nuggets are favourites to fight out a Volleyball Horsham C Grade Lightning Spike Challenge after finishing on top of their respective pools.

The Murtoa team went through to two rounds undefeated while the Nuggets dropped one game and finished on top, percentage ahead of the Von Steiger Shadows in pool B.

While the top teams will get the advantage of progressing straight through to quarter finals, the teams below them will be keen to show they will contend after showing good form in the second round.

The Pringles boys are proof of this, having had the Murtoa team on the ropes leading 39-36 with two minutes left on the clock, but could not deliver the killer blow.

The Murtoa team stormed home to win 44-41.

Another team that will fancy their chances will be the Murtoa Lizards.

They drew with the Pringles 36-36 and were right in the game against the Railway team.

They would have gone back and watched the recording of the game and will learn plenty for when the finals come around.

The Von Steiger Shadows have improved each game and with the introduction of Frank Sweet to their team look much stronger.

With the shortened format of two 12-minute halves, along with the modified scoring for service aces and kill blocks, all teams are finding they are never out of the contest.

With the same intensity and fast play, coupled with finals like atmosphere, anything could happen.

Finals for this competition will be Monday fortnight, while A and B grades play on May 30.