De Mazenod College, Kandana emerged champions in the 14th Henry Senaratne Memorial Volleyball Championship as the hosts clean swept the match, winning all 3 sets comprehensively against Maris Stella College, Negombo in the finals at the De Mazenod College Volleyball Court.
Mazenodians won both the first and the second set of the match with a score of 25-16, without facing much trouble from the Maristonians.
Maris Stella had to win the 3rd set of the match to stay alive in the finals while a Mazenodian victory in the 3rd set would help them claim the title. Hence the pressure was definitely on the Maris Stella College Volleyball team. Cheers from the spectators supporting De Mazenod College increased their pressure.
These two teams met each other three days before in the Zonal Volleyball Championship and the match was won by the Mazenodians making an entrance to the Provincial Volleyball Championship almost after 10 years. That too must have created some sort of a negative impact on the Maris Stella Captain Nipun Sachintha and his fellow team mates. So they stepped into the 3rd set with a better game plan on their mind.
They were able to minimize their mistakes and start the 3rd set on a positive note. They gave a good fight to the Mazenodians scoring their first few points quickly. But soon, the Mazenodians were up to the task. They came back to their rhythm and the Maristonians too kept on playing positively. With both teams playing well, the third set was much more thrilling than the first two sets.
When one team scored a point, the other team also scored a point. The set became open to both teams. Players of both teams did their best; Mazenodians with the hope of clinching the title and Maristonians with the hope of taking the game to the 4th set.
But in the end, after a thrilling encounter of volleyball De Mazenod College won the 3rd set with a score of 25-22. Although the Maristonians lost the match, their Skipper Nipun Sachintha leading from the front was exceptional throughout the 3rd giving a tough competition to the opposition.
De Mazenod College, Kandana claimed the 14th Henry Senaratne Memorial Volleyball Championship and the individual awards were divided among the two teams.
- Best Server – Malith Shalinda of De Mazenod College, Kandana
- Best Defender – Nipun Udayanga of De Mazenod College, Kandana
- Best Setter – Devindu Jeewantha of De Mazenod College, Kandana
- Best Attacker – Nipun Sachintha of Maris Stella College, Negombo
- Man of the Match – Dilakshana Deshan of De Mazenod College, Kandana
- Player of the Tournament – Tharindu Madusanka of De Mazenod College, Kandana
