Bayelsa, Bauchi triumph at NSSF volleyball champs

Bayelsa and Bauchi states emerged champions at the second National School Volleyball Championships, which concluded on Friday at the National Institute for Sports inside the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos, PidomNigeria Sports Extra reports.

The four-day tournament featured 28 teams, comprising 10 boys’ and eight girls’ sides drawn from across the country, including Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Ondo, Ekiti, Osun, Adamawa, Bauchi and Bayelsa.

Organised by the Nigeria School Sport Federation in partnership with the Nigeria Volleyball Federation and supported by the Lagos State Sports Commission, the competition highlighted grassroots development and youth participation in sport.

Bayelsa won the girls’ title after a closely contested final against Lagos.

They took the opening set 25-14 before Lagos responded to win the second 25-19.

The decisive set proved tense, with Bayelsa holding their nerve to edge it 15-12 and seal victory.

In the boys’ final, Bauchi came from behind to defeat hosts Lagos.

Lagos won the first set 25-21, but Bauchi responded strongly, dominating the second set 25-12.

They carried that momentum into the deciding set, winning 15-9 to clinch the title.

Adamawa and Oyo won bronze medals in the boys’ and girls’ categories respectively, defeating Ekiti and Ogun in their third-place matches.

Selected players from the tournament are expected to represent Nigeria at the International School Sport Federation World School Volleyball Championship, scheduled to take place from July 1 to 10 in China, as part of efforts to further develop future talent.