It was sweet revenge for X-Sel Volley when after a gruelsome two-hour match, they managed to emerge out as winners over leaders Paola with the score 3-2, the same score with which the latter had won the match between these two sides a few weeks ago.

And it was all the more special, since Paola had taken a 2-0 lead, which X-Sel managed to annul, and then turn in their favour in an excellently played fifth and decisive set.

Paola started very well in the first two sets, and although missing the services of injured D. Lontos, they kept piling the pressure on X-Sel mainly through Alison Borg and Carmen Gauci, while X-Sel, although still staying very close to their opponents, were making too many unforced errors to be able to trouble their opponents.

The third set was very important for X-Sel’s aims to put Paola in difficulty, and with Belinda Milton and Catherine Attard being served very regularly and well by setter Sara El Gasi, X-Sel immediately went up in front, with the decisive break coming mid way through A. Cassar’s services.

In the fourth one, the story was quite the same, however Paola stayed much closer to their opponents, until X-Sel went 24-20 up.

Paola offered one last effort but this was not enough as X-Sel won the set 25-22, to force the tie break.

The latter kept playing well in the fifth set, and as soon as they went 8-4 up, it was soon all over, with Paola’s reception failing at this most important time.

X-Sel are now in third place, just two points behind San Anton, while Paola are still leading the pack with a four point advantage.

In the U/19 Boys League, runaway leaders Aloysians Red opened a seven point lead at the top of the standings, after beating second placed CFK Fleur de Lys 2-0, with the latter having themselves to blame for not taking the match to a decisive third set.

Aloysians Volley Club are also very close to win the Boys’ U/14 league, having a two-point advantage over Kerygma, with only one match left. During this weekend, they beat San Anton 2-0, while Kerygma beat St. Aloysius College with the same score. In the Girls’ category, with just one round to go for the end of the first phase, it is still very undecisive for four teams whether they will be playing in the Championship Pool or in the Plate Pool during the second phase.

However, this weekend’s direct clashes between Paola and Lily of the Valley School, and between CFK Fleur de Lys A and X-Sel A, should settle this issue.