Gripping NVL ends in defeat for Rhinos
LAST Sunday’s National Volleyball League drew to an enthralling close in Durban with the Western Cranes walking away with the title at the expense of the Kingdom Rhinos.
With home ground advantage and a partisan crowd behind them, the Kwazulu-natal Rhinos were left to rue a number of missed opportunities as the Cranes (from the Western Cape) won by three sets to nil.
The Cranes started by playing a high intensity game in the first set, thanks to some big attacking moves from Clinton Stemmet and the lefthanded Ethan May.
The Rhinos hit back through power hitter Devin O’ Regan and middle attacker, Yuvir Ramjit, to level the score at 8-8. May then put together a string of fiery services. With the scores locked at 24-24, Stemmet’s power hitting from the wings wasere too hot to handle for the home side and they lost the set 26-24.
In the second set it was close all the way, but Rhinos captain Quwin Naidoo sent a crucial attack out of bounds and it handed the momentum to the Cranes. Velisha Ntshuntshe then rose to pound home from the middle to guide his team to a 26-24 win.
The third set was another tight encounter with the scoreboard ticking evenly. At 22-22 the Rhinos once again failed to curb the firepower of Stemmet and May, who powered their side to a 25-23 victory.
A disappointed Naidoo said: “Complacency and composure were the two aspects that cost us the game. We found it hard to close out sets.”
May was a constant thorn in the side of the Rhinos and Naidoo admitted they failed to deal with the star utility.
“May is a quality player and has been constantly performing for Western Province. Facing up against a left-handed player with his quality was something new. We found it hard to set up a solid defence.”
Despite their defeat, Naidoo said they would take many lessons from the inaugural NVL into the future.
“We finished top of the league before the knock-out stages, which was an achievement on its own and we know what it takes to win NVL moving forward. The Rhinos will be back stronger than ever,” Naidoo promised.