THE 2019 SHELL MD/CCH INVITATIONAL VOLLEYBALL TOURNAMENT

The Shell Volleyball tournament is an event organized by Shell Volleyball club, portharcourt. This yearly tourney brings together lovers and superb players of the game-volleyball. The event is strictly invitational, and is held at the Shell RA Volleyball Court.

This year’s edition was no different, as 18 teams (both male and female) from different places battled for first place, along with the one million naira cash prize attached to it. The teams in attendance include: City Spikers of Bayelsa (male and female), Shell Spikers (male and female), Trailblazers of Bayelsa(male and female), Shell Elite(female), Baton Spikers of Owerri(male and female), Master Busters of Nnewi(male), Dynamic Spikers of Anambra (male and female), Sunshine Spikers of Ondo(male), New Waves VBC of Ibadan(male), Sonmfo VBC Abuja (female), Total Angels (female), and the University of Nigeria Nsukka Volleyball team(male and female).

The climax of the tournament was the last day, 7^th of December, which had the leading teams from the group stages fight to the finish for the one million Naira prize money. For both the male and female category, it was Shell Spikers versus City Spikers. Both teams were star-studded as they had some of the best volleyball players in Nigeria on their roster.

For the female category, Shell Spikers started confidently, winning the first set with no stress. But the game got tougher and they eventually lost out to City Spiker with a final 3-1 score. And for the male category, perhaps motivated by the loss of their female team, Shell Spikers crushed City Spikers with a major count of 3-1.

The highlights of the event include: the awarding of the prize money to the different teams that came first, second, and third; awarding the Most Valuable Player for both the male and female category, and a vote of thanks from the Shell Volleyball Manager. The first place teams went home with one million naira, the second place teams-500,000 Naira, and the third place teams 300,000 Naira.

This might be the last major volleyball event for the year 2019, and Pitakwa sure did not disappoint. The weather was perfect for an outdoor activity and the organisers kept the visitors and guests well entertained with a display of world-class volleyball.