The 2026 National Division One Volleyball League got off to an exciting start on Friday, November 13, with Sword Volleyball Club and NAF Rockets recording hard-fought victories in their opening matches at the Indoor Sports Hall of the Umuahia Township Stadium, Abia State.
Sword edged past Spartans of Adamawa 3–2 in a thrilling five-set encounter to begin their campaign on a winning note.
Sword took the first set 25–21 before Spartans fought back to claim the second set 32–30. The Adamawa-based side continued their resurgence in the third set, winning 25–18 to take a 2–1 lead. However, Sword rallied to win the fourth set 25–21 before sealing victory with a 15–10 triumph in the deciding fifth set.
NAF Rockets also survived a spirited challenge from Katsina United, winning 3–2 in another closely contested encounter.
The Rockets claimed the opening set 25–22, but Katsina United responded by winning the second set 25–21 and the third 30–28 to move within a set of victory. NAF Rockets, however, demonstrated resilience to take the fourth set 31–29 before clinching the deciding set 15–13.
In another men’s encounter, Light Spikers produced an impressive performance to defeat Nigeria Immigration Service 3–0, winning all three sets 25–19, 25–23 and 25–17.
Rhino Volleyball Club also recorded a convincing 3–0 victory over Wikki of Bauchi to round off the day’s fixtures.
A release by the public relations officer of the Abia State Sports Council, Stella Ebede, indicates that the championship continues tomorrow, Sunday, November 15, with Division One matches taking place at the Indoor Sports Hall of the Umuahia Township Stadium, while Division Two fixtures will be played at the Research Centre, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike.
