ISLAMABAD, Jan 1: Title-holders Wapda advanced to the quarterfinals league of the 40th National Volleyball Championship at the Liaquat Gymnasium on Saturday with an easy victory.

Chasing their sixth national title, Wapda's victims were AJK whom they defeated 25-10, 25-18, 25-13 to book their berth in the quarters league with a preliminary game against NWFP still to go.

Wapda, who had toppled Army in the 2003 final, were clearly superior against an AJK side that looked confused and short of ideas. There was no way the defending champions could be halted, although their rivals did make a brave effort in the second game.

But Wapda, helped by power spiker Muneebullah, Jawad and setter Asghar made sure not to let matters go out of hand.

Wapda led from start to finish in the first game but it was the second in which they encountered problems with AJK giving them quite a fight.

However, AJK who went down fighting to NWFP in five games on Friday's opening day, made unforced errors at crucial stages,that benefited Wapda.

After being neck and neck early on in the third game, AJK could not cope with the aggressive play of their opponents and lost the third game in quick time.

Also qualifying for the quarterfinals league without having to sweat were NWFP and Army, both of whom were awarded walkovers against their respective opponents.

Army, ten time winners of the national crown, had been scheduled to play PTCL while NWFP were to take on Sindh.

Army, who have featured in 12 national finals since 1958, had handed Pak Boards a straight-game drubbing in their first match and will now play Navy on Sunday. NWFP on the other hand will be up against Wapda.

Navy, also checked in, hammering Pak Boards 25-7, 25-14, 25-14 through the good work of power spikers Jannat Ali, Azhar and libro Tariq.

The POF team that finished third last year by upsetting Police, downed HEC with consummate ease, spiker Sajjad Khan, setter Sadi Ahmed and libro Liaquat Ali shining in a 25-8, 25-12, 25-15 victory that put them in quarters.

Winners against Islamabad on Friday, POF now face Punjab, who too moved ahead with a straight-game knockout of the home team 25-20, 25-15, 25-21.

Police, winners of the national crown 15 times, edged newcomers Pak Steel 25-13, 25-18, 25-20 in a hard-fought match as they too entered the quarterfinals league.

The experience of spikers Tufail, Ehsanullah Tipu and Muhammad Naseer along with fine play by libro Tariq Waseem enabled Police to carve out victory.

In another match, PAF scored a 25-10, 25-14, 25-21 win over Railways, their first in two days after losing to Police on Friday. Good spiking by Riaz Khan and Siyad Khan created problems for Railways who are still winless in the competition.

Sunday is the last day of the preliminary round of the championship that is being held in Islamabad for the second year running. The quarterfinals league starts on Monday.

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