A new winner will be crowned in the women’s division of the 2015 Bula FM Marist Volleyball Championships after defending champion Flames were bundled out of the competition yesterday.

The Lautoka-based champs succumbed in the quarterfinals at the FMF Gymnasium last night to national rep Anaseini Seniloli’s Marist Saints 2-0.

Organising committee chairman Viliame Katia said this was a reflection of the positive competitive spirit the tournament promoted.

“The upsets are a reflection of how the competition has lifted because all the teams are training harder and everyone wants to win, so there’s no guarantee that because you’re the defending champion you’ll win again.

“This is what Marist Volleyball is all about, which is providing an opportunity to talents to compete and hopefully gain exposure and the attention of national selectors. The quality of play has truly lifted.

“We wish all the teams luck on the second day of competition and look forward to whoever will win the men’s and women’s titles today.”

The Flames earlier lost their first pool match to Heartland, opening up the way for a new women’s champions to be crowned today. Seniloli was top points scorer for Saints while last year’s MVP Katarina Cakaunitabua was in menacing form for the Flames but unfortunately lacked the team support, which cost them their semi-final slot and chance to defend their title in the final.

Marist Saints will face last year’s runner-up Unix in their match tomorrow.

In the men’s category, the match of the day was between Senibua Knights and Army – which came down to the wire in the eliminations. The Knights scraped through 2-1.

Defending champions Marist cruised through all their matches yesterday and will face the Challengers this morning.

Rebels also had a good day winning all matches uncontested.

The men’s quarter-finals begin today at 9am with the women’s semi-finals scheduled for 2.30pm, at the FMF Gymnasium in Laucala Bay, Suva.

Results Elimination men’s: Marist Red 2-0 Chips, Senibua Knights 2-1 Army, Rebels 2-0 Scorpio, Raiwaqa X-Club 2-0 Neighbours Nadi, Rebels 2-0 Falcons, China Town 0-2 Challengers, Cakau 2-0 Matsviller Snipers, Eagles 2-0 Drekeiwaila

Women’s quarterfinals: Heartland 2-0 Sakura, Brewers 2-0 Cakaunitabua, Unix 2-0 Neighbours Nadi, Saints 2-0 Flames.

Today’s fixtures:

8am Quick Volley Competition.

9am Men’s quarterfinals: Marist v Challengers, Rebels II v Eagles, Senibua Knights v Rebels, Raiwaqa X-Club v Cakau.

Women’s semi-finals – 2.30pm: Marist Saints v Unix, Brewers v Heartland.

Feedback: eroni.tuinaceva@fijisun.com.fj