In a keenly-contested tie, both the teams played with grit and determination and took the final to full five sets before Punjab Police finally emerged triumphant.

Earlier, it was a repeat of the first-leg final of the National League Volleyball at Erattupetta. Just one Anu Jacob to do all duties for the hosts against a well-oiled striking force of the Indian Railways, in the womens' final. Railways won the match 15-9, 16-14 and 15-8. It was their 18th victory in the tourney.

Punjab Police began well to lead 13-0 in the first set. They came up with strong blocks against the bankmen through Jagbir Singh, Bhupinder Singh and Sandeep. However, IOB shot back with renewed vigour and earned points quickly to level thescores at 14-all and went on to win at 16-14 in 23 minutes.

In the second set, IOB were ahead 7-0. But the policemen came charging back with consolidated defence and blocks. After the scores were level at 10-all, Punjab Police went on a five-point run to win the set 15-11 in about 20 minutes.

The neck-to-neck tussle continued in the next set too. From a 15-all, the bankmen won the set in extra points. The proceedings took a sudden turn when the policemen exhibited some great smashes to make the game look one-sided and ran away with the fourth set in under 19 minutes.

The policemen kept up the pace and did not allow their rivals to match their defence in the all-important set and clinched the decider.

In the women's final, though Railways began well, taking a 3-0 lead, the hosts soon caught up with them through a couple of good smashes by Sunu Jacob and a beautiful net drop by Shiji. After levelling the scores, Anu rose to form, covering the court well. A beautiful Shiji drop and a deceptive smash byPraseeda gave the hosts a 5-3 lead, but the team turned indifferent for a while and a spate of strikes from Sangita and Hemalata put the defending champions into a 12-5 lead. However, Railways could not maintain the same tempo and the homeside intensified the pace to come as near as 9-12. Captain Prasanna and setter Mercy played below par and Railways made use of the occasion with a flurry of power-packed smashes. A deceptive placement by Salomi ended the game in only 17 minutes at 15-9.

Railways had a good start in the second but Kerala matched their rivals, in a one-to-one point sequence. Anu Jacob, playmaker of the Kerala side, executed some ruthless smashes, decimating the strong rival block of Sangita and Salomi. At 7-8, the hosts were in with a chance but Sunu failed to return a Sangitha smash. However, Anu was in terrific form and executed a brilliant smash to level the scores at 9-9. Anu continued to execute smashes at will giving no chance to their rival blockers, and Kerala led 13-9 at onestage.

However, Kerala failed to return three Vaishali serves and Railways cut down the hosts lead to 12-13 and veteran Salomi levelled the scores, with a swift strike. The same player executed another bombshell-like strike to give her team a 14-13 lead. But a Anu smash restored parity, 14-14. Railways garnered two more points, when the ball landed in vacant spots and the set was over in 25 minutes.

In the third set the hosts had a dream start with a 4-0 lead, but their rivals took a 5-4 lead when the hosts lost their rhythm. And thereafter the hosts were nowhere and gifted the title to their rivals.

Anu Jacob was adjudged the best woman player. Earlier in the loser's final West Bengal defeated Kerala Youth 15-10, 14-16, 15-8.