Volleyball: Sunshine Spikers, Plateau Rocks emerge champions of Regional Unity Cup

 

Sunshine Spikers of Ondo and Plateau Rocks are champions of the men and women's category of the just concluded 2022 Regional Unity Invitational Challenge Cup in Oloru, Kwara State on Friday.

Sunshine Spikers defeated New Waves of Ogun State 3-2 (27-25, 12-25, 23-25, 25-22, 15-11) in the men's final while Plateau Rocks pummeled young Niger Raven 3-0 (25-18, 25-14, 25-17) at the Government Secondary School (GSS) Oloru, Moro Local Government Area.

The Captain of Sunshine Spikers, Daniel Nathaniel commended his teammates for not giving up in the fourth set.

The National team player said, "I am happy Sunshine Spikers won their first trophy in 2022; this trophy will inspire us to play better this season".

Coach of Plateau Rocks women's team, Rakiya Mohammed expressed happiness beginning the 2022 volleyball season with a giant trophy.

The assistant coach of the National U18 Girls team said, "Some of the girls that played the finals are still in secondary schools. I tried an experiment of blending the few senior players and young players at the challenge cup and it worked. This is the revival of Plateau Rocks women's team in Nigeria.

Meanwhile, Sponsor of the Challenge Cup, Engineer Suleiman Rotimi Iliasu told newsmen that he is impressed with the turnout of players, coaches and spectators.

Engineer Iliasu said the 3rd edition of the Regional Unity Invitational Challenge Cup was made possible by Kwara State Governor, Mallam Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq who is an advocate of youths in government.

The Kwara State Commissioner for Works and Transportation said, "I am happy with the turnout of National team players (Junior and Senior) and young volleyball players playing on the same court. The game of volleyball has come to stay in my home town and next year’s challenge cup will be bigger.”

In the third place matches, Oloru Super Stars beat Nile University 3-1 (27-25, 25-18, 21-25, 25-14) to settle for bronze medal in the men's category while Oloru Super Angels defeated Legacy VC 3-1 (25-14, 25-16, 21-25, 25-13) to snatch the bronze medal.

Volleyball: New Wave, Sunshine Spikers talk tough ahead of 2022 Regional Cup final

New Waves VC and Sunshine Spikers of Akure have booked their place in the men's final of the ongoing 2022 Regional Unity Invitational Cup in Oloru, Kwara State on Friday

In the first men's semifinals, star studded New Waves VC dispatched Nile University 3-0 (25-17, 25-21, 25-22) while  Sunshine Spikers defeated Oloru Super Stars 3-0 (25-18, 25-17, 25-21) at the outdoor court of Government Secondary School in Moro Local Government Area on Thursday.

The Captain of Sunshine Spikers, Daniel Nathaniel said his team are going to enjoy themselves in the finals.

Nathaniel revealed that the Invitational Cup is used to sharpen Sunshine Spikers ahead of the 2022 Nigeria Volleyball Season.

He said, "Sunshine Spikers are not under pressure to win this year's edition of the Regional Unity Invitational Challenge Cup. We are here to enjoy ourselves; you saw the way we played against Oloru Super Stars in the semifinals.

"Sunshine Spikers were not impressive at last season's Nigeria Volleyball Premier League, in fact we narrowly escaped relegation. This tournament will be used to prepare ahead of this year's volleyball season.

Meanwhile, Plateau Rocks will face young side, Niger Raven in the women's final on Friday by 2pm.

3rd place matches:

Legacy VC v Oloru Super Angels (10am) women

Oloru Super Stars v Nile University (12pm) men

Day 4 Semifinals results of the ongoing 2022 Regional Unity Invitational Cup in Oloru

Men:

Sunshine Spikers v Oloru Super Stars 3-0 (25-18, 25-17, 25-21)

New Waves VC v Nile University 3-0 (25-17, 25-21, 25-22)

Women:

Niger Raven v Legacy VC 3-2 (19-25, 26-24, 25-21, 23-25, 15-7)

Plateau Rocks v Oloru Super Angels 3-1 (25-20, 27-25, 15-25, 25-22)

Volleyball: Oloru Spikers battles Sunshine Spikers in S/finals of 2022 Regional Cup

 

Host, Oloru Super Stars will face Sunshine Spikers of Akure in the first semifinals of the ongoing 2022 Regional Unity Invitational Cup on Thursday.

In the second semifinals, New Waves of Ogun State battles Nile University in an epic game at the Government Secondary Schools (GSS), Oloru in Moro Local Government Area of Kwara State.

Oloru Super Stars topped group A after beating Nile University and Kwara United while New Waves beat Legacy VC, OFFA VC and Sunshine Spikers of Akure to top Group B.

The Coach of Oloru Super Stars, Femi Shogo told newsmen that his players are motivated to make it to the finals.

Shogo revealed that playing against experienced Sunshine Spikers will be a difficult task but speed and accuracy is in favour hiss his team.

He said, "Oloru Super Stars are yet to lose a game and the semifinals will not be the first. The boys are properly motivated and I am optimistic victory is ours.

"I am aware Sunshine Spikers of Akure are Champions of National Sports Festival, they also parade National team player; we are not intimidated by their pedigree. Speed, precision and accuracy will determine who wins the game."

Meanwhile, Plateau Rocks will meet Oloru Super Angels in the women's first semifinals while Legacy VC slugs it out with Niger Raven

Day 3:

*Men*

OFFA VC v Sunshine Spikers 0-2 (13-25, 19-25)

Legacy VC v New Wave 0-2 (23-25, 23-25)

Kwara United VC v Nile University 0-2 (19-25, 16-25)

*Women*

Golden Spikers of Anambra v Niger Raven 0-2 (19-25, 29-31)

Olalomi Royal Spikers v Plateau Rocks 0-2 (12-25, 21-25)

Kada Emeralds v Trailblazers VC of Bayelsa (25-21, 25-21)

Oloru Super Angels v Legacy VC (19-25, 25-23, 12-15)

Volleyball: Rakiya Mohammed reveals Plateau Rocks target at Regional Unity Invitational Cup

 

The Head Coach of Plateau Rocks women's team, Rakiya Mohammed said her team wants to lift the trophy at the 2022 Regional Unity Invitational Cup in Moro, Kwara State.

Mohammed stated this after Plateau Rocks beat Golden Spikers of Anambra state 2-0 (25-20, 25-15) at the ongoing 2022 Regional Unity Invitational Cup on Tuesday.

The National U18 Girls Coach revealed that all the participating teams are threats to her team adding that the Semifinals will be won outside the court.

She said, "It is my desire that Plateau Rocks wins the 2022 Regional Unity Invitational Cup. This is a new beginning for my team because we are in the process of rebuilding a brand new women's team.

"If you look critical at the team, you will see that it a a mixture of experienced and young players. We decided to bring a legend like Dorathy Egbim and National team player, Albertina Francis to mentor the girls on and off the court.

"Plateau Rocks won two matches and this means we are in the Semifinals of the invitational. I will work on the psychology of my players before the game so that it will be a stroll in the park when they meet their opponents on Thursday."

Results of match Day 2:

Women:

Niger Raven v Olalomi Royal Spikers 2-0 (25-16, 25-16)

Plateau Rocks v Golden Spikers of Anambra 2-0 (25-20, 25-15)

Oloru Super Angels v Trailblazers VC of Bayelsa 2-0 (25-18, 25-22)

Kada Emeralds v Legacy VC 0-2 (22-25, 24-26)

Men:

Legacy VC v Sunshine Spikers 0-2 (21-25, 29-31)

New Waves VC v OFFA VC 2-0 (25-20, 25-18)

Oloru Super Stars v Kwara United 2-0 (26-24, 25-15)