Kolkata Thunderbolts beat Mumbai Meteors 3-2 (12-15, 15-6, 12-15, 15-11, 15-11) in Match 18 of the RuPay Prime Volleyball League Powered by A23 Season 2 to go at the top of the table.

The topsy-turvy nature of the game was such that no one could predict the winner until the match point. Interestingly enough, Kolkata made a losing start to the fixture, going 12-15 down in the opening set itself.

The team brushed off the errors and riding on their superior attacking prowess and mental effectiveness, they overcame a tough test to strengthen their position in the points tally.

Kolkata make a statement, but Mumbai weren’t behind either

After losing the first set 12-15, Kolkata Thunderbolts stormed right into the game with an impressive 15-6 win in the second round. Among those who played their due diligence was a certain Ashwal Rai, who alone tallied a whopping seven points in the second set; four of which came in the attack and three via blocking.

What followed next was an absolute treat for the spectators. After sharing two sets apiece, the game went into the decider and thanks to a series of unforced errors from Mumbai, which could have been easily avoided, Kolkata managed to make a strong statement.

Confidence at its very best

Kolkata Thunderbolts are very much beatable despite having a deep energy reserve. Calicut Heroes showed how the job must be performed and Mumbai Meteors almost replicated the recipe to perfection. The shortcomings were indeed visible, but this goes to show how one must play against Kolkata.

Interestingly enough, the key to Mumbai’s belief was their confidence. If not for the unforced errors, they would have pulled off an upset.

Kolkata? Mumbai? Try picking out a winner

Kolkata Thunderbolts and Mumbai Meteors played an absolute blinder of a match. The two teams were at each other's necks all game long and it wasn’t until the latter part of the final set that a winner was decided. By the end of the final timeout, Kolkata had a two-point lead and whatever chat they had with their coach worked wonders as they went from leading 9-7 to bagging the set 15-11.