ISLAMABAD, Jan 4: Army retained their crown Saturday shrugging off a strong challenge from Police in the final of the 38th National Volleyball Championship played in Wah.

The experienced Army side comprising such players as Bakht Risal, Jameel and Zafar Iqbal took the first set 25-19 only for Police to fight back and take next 25-20 to level the scoreline.

However the Armymen went one up again claiming the third set 25-15 because of some splendid smashing and blocking. But Police, having Tufail, Mazhar and Tipu among their ranks were not the ones to give up and fought tooth and nail to pull level once again by winning the fourth set 25-18 to take the final into the deciding set.

In the end though it was the Army that held their nerve to clinch the decisive set 15-13 for what was their 13th title.

Army manager Qaiser Mustafa said that powerful spiking by his team made the difference. He praised Bakht Risal and Zafar Iqbal for good show.

In the third place play off Wapda defeated POF also in five sets 21-25, 25-16, 25-19, 20-25, 15-7 in another well-contested encounter between two well-matched outfit.

Results:

Final: Army bt Police 25-19, 20-25, 25-15, 18-25, 15-13.

Third place playoff: Wapda bt POF 21-25, 25-16, 25-19, 20-25, 15- 7.