The Kochi Blue Spikers battled their way to a thrilling five-set victory over the Goa Guardians, winning 11–15, 17–15, 15–13, 10–15, 15–10 in the RR Kabel Prime Volleyball League powered by Scapia at the Gachibowli Indoor Stadium on Sunday.
In a contest that swung dramatically from one side to the other, Kochi’s Hemanth stood tall with a commanding all-round performance, earning the Player of the Match award. The match began at an electrifying pace as Goa captain Chirag Yadav opened proceedings with a booming super serve, immediately putting Kochi under pressure. The Guardians’ aggressive start reflected their intent to control the tempo from the outset.
Kochi’s response came through their skipper Byron Keturakis, who set the tone with quick plays from the middle and consistent blocking. Erin, operating from the outside zones, began finding his rhythm, though an early super point call from Goa paid off when Erin committed a service error handing Goa a two-point advantage that they carried through most of the first set.
Goa’s defensive organization was on point, with Prince and Rohit patrolling the backcourt effectively. Kochi’s middle-blocker Amarinder Pal Singh tried to swing momentum back with his trademark quick spikes from the centre, while Hemanth looked to test the Goa receivers with his serves. Despite Kochi’s late surge, Goa held their composure, taking the first set 15–11.
Kochi Find Their Feet
The second set saw Kochi make key adjustments. Captain Keturakis shifted his rotation to form a tight two-man block with Amarinder, directly challenging Chirag’s line of attack. The strategy immediately yielded results, with the Goa captain struggling to find clean kills.
Meanwhile, Erin grew into the game, mixing pace and angles on his smashes to exploit spaces behind the Goa block. As Kochi started winning longer rallies, their confidence soared. Goa tried to maintain their edge through service pressure, but Prince’s overhit serve during a super point proved costly, gifting Kochi crucial momentum. The Spikers capitalised swiftly, pushing ahead through a strong middle play from Amarinder and a couple of quick kills from Hemanth. The closing moments of the set were tense, with both sides trading points. But Kochi’s superior blocking and defensive retrievals, led by libero Alan Ashique, helped them edge the set 17–15, levelling the match at one set apiece.
The third set saw both teams at their peak intensity. Kochi’s rhythm, which had started to build in the previous set, translated into sharper transitions and faster plays. Keturakis directed traffic from the setter’s position with precision, distributing the ball between Erin on the flank and Amarinder through the middle. Goa, however, refused to back down. Chirag found his touch again with some powerful serves, while Rohit began to target Kochi’s backline. Substitute Vikram added a new dimension to Goa’s attack, bringing aggression in the front court and resilience in defence.
Despite Goa’s push, Kochi showed superior discipline in critical moments. Their ability to handle pressure was evident when Hemanth executed a perfect block on Chirag to bring up set point. The Spikers closed the set 15–13, taking a 2–1 lead and swinging momentum firmly in their favour.
Just when it seemed Kochi were ready to seal the match, Goa produced a gritty comeback. The Guardians regrouped between sets, tightening their serve reception and improving block timing. Rohit’s pinpoint serving disrupted Kochi’s first-pass rhythm, and Chirag capitalised by scoring consistently off quick sets from Prince. Kochi momentarily lost their defensive shape, and their attack became predictable. Hemanth and Erin continued to fight, but Goa’s collective energy and execution were superior in the fourth set. Their defence, led by libero Rajveer, kept frustrating Kochi’s hitters.
With their captain leading by example, Goa wrapped up the set 15–10, forcing the match into a decisive fifth set.
Hemanth and Alan Shine in the Decider
The fifth and final set was a true test of nerves and endurance. Both sides traded early points before Kochi began to pull away, driven by Hemanth’s leadership and precision in all departments. Whether it was spiking, blocking, or serving, he delivered when it mattered most. Libero Alan Ashique produced some spectacular diving saves, keeping crucial rallies alive and denying Goa easy points. One such defensive sequence turned the tide Alan’s retrieval led to a transition attack finished emphatically by Erin, which earned Kochi a super point opportunity.
A smart review call by the Kochi bench confirmed that Erin’s spike had clipped the line, granting the Spikers two vital points. That moment deflated Goa’s resistance, and Kochi capitalised swiftly. Hemanth finished the match in style with a powerful cross-court hit that pierced Goa’s defence, sealing a 15–10 win in the decider.
The Kochi bench erupted as the team celebrated their second victory of the season one built on character, adjustments, and sheer persistence.
Player of the Match: Hemanth Leads by Example
Hemanth’s contribution went beyond the numbers. His serving runs shifted momentum multiple times, and his consistency under pressure steadied Kochi when the match threatened to slip away. His presence on the front court gave Kochi the edge in crunch moments, justifying his Player of the Match honour. For Kochi, the match highlighted their ability to recover from early setbacks and sustain intensity across long contests. Captain Byron Keturakis’ blocking coordination with Amarinder was instrumental in disrupting Goa’s flow, while Erin’s offensive versatility gave Kochi balance on the wings.
Goa, on the other hand, will rue the missed chances in sets two and three. Their early control slipped through errors at key moments, particularly during super point calls. However, the emergence of Vikram as a reliable front-court option and Chirag Yadav’s leadership were positives to build on.
It was a battle of endurance, tactical execution, and mental strength. Kochi Blue Spikers’ 3–2 win over Goa Guardians wasn’t just another league match it was a testament to how resilience and teamwork can tilt even the tightest of contests.
Final Score: Kochi Blue Spikers bt Goa Guardians 11–15, 17–15, 15–13, 10–15, 15–10
Player of the Match: Hemanth
