PVL: Ashwal Rai powers Kolkata Thunderbolts to thrilling win over Calicut Heroes

Kolkata Thunderbolts skipper Ashwal Rai produced a fabulous performance to help his team record a thrilling 3-2 win over Calicut Heroes in the third match of the Prime Volleyball League at the Gachibowli Indoor Stadium in Hyderabad on Monday.

Kolkata Thunderbolts took down Calicut Heroes 15-13, 12-15, 15-10, 12-15, 15-13. Kolkata picked up two points from this match. Kolkata Thunderbolts' Ashwal Rai was adjudged the Player of the Match.

Skipper Ashwal Rai got the Kolkata Thunderbolts off to a strong start as the side took the lead at 5-2. Moments later, Aravindhan S coolly tapped the ball over the net and Kolkata continued to control the proceedings at 6-4.

Jerome Vinith tried to keep the Calicut Heroes in the contest but Ashwal kept producing superb spikes which helped Kolkata close out the first set at 15-13.

The Thunderbolts continued to dominate in the second set as well, taking the lead through a fantastic spike at 8-6. However, Calicut gained the momentum after winning a crucial Super Point and took a three-point lead at 12-9. Fabulous spikes by Vinith and Ajithlal C helped the Heroes win the second set 15-12 and get on the board.

Rahul lit up the stage with a brilliant spike and helped Kolkata take the lead at 5-4 in the third set, however, the Heroes levelled the scores soon after. Both sides kept winning points in tandem until a fantastic block by Mohamed Riyazudeen and a spike by Ashwal helped Kolkata take the lead at 12-9.

Moments later, the Thunderbolts won a crucial Super Point and eventually took a 2-1 lead in the match. Vignesh Raj D and Ajithlal produced some brilliant spikes as Calicut attained a massive lead at 8-3 in the fourth set. The Heroes rode on the momentum and clinched the fourth set 15-12 to make it two sets all.

The Heroes and the Thunderbolts played out a neck-to-neck contest until 4-4 in the fifth set, however, a superb block by Calicut helped the team gain the momentum and take a three-point lead at 7-4. But, Ashwal kept Kolkata's hopes alive by helping his team level the scores at 12-12. The Kolkata skipper finished with a fantastic spike to take his team to a thrilling victory.

Bengaluru Torpedoes will be up against the Kochi Blue Spikers at the Gachibowli Indoor Stadium in the fourth match of the Prime Volleyball League in Hyderabad on Tuesday.

( With inputs from ANI )

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