Aylesbury Vale Volleyball Club

Buckinghamshire Volleyball

Volleyers lost first game of Season, but there is promise in the performance

03 Nov 2007

Welwyn Wasps 3
Vale Volleyers 0
25 - 10; 25 - 12; 25 - 13

The Vale Volleyers lost their first league game of the 2007/8 season to Welwyn Wasps last weekend. It was always going to be a difficult game for Vale up against a team who had just been relegated from Division 1 the previous season.

Welwyn looked like a team on a mission and set about Vale from the start. Vale found it difficult to contend with the strength of the Welwyn attack as they found themselves with an 8 point deficit from the off. However, some good serving from Sara Clarke played on Welwyn's weaknesses and Vale were able to fight back; Reducing the deficit to 2 points. Despite some well organized defending, Vale's attack was continually snuffed out by the Welwyn block. Vale found themselves having to change their game as they probed the Welwyn defence for a weakness. However, despite some progress by Jem Clarke there was very little on offer from Welwyn and they took the 1st Set 25-10.

In the 2nd set some early service errors and poor passing put Vale on the back foot from the start. As it began to look like Welwyn were running away with things complacency set in and some good hitting from Kevin Pistak began to find the holes in the Welwyn defence which had been seemingly absent in the 1st Set. As the set progressed, Vale's attack began to look stronger as they found their way around the Welwyn block again and again. However, the defensive passing did not improve and Welwyn took the 2nd Set 25-12.

It was a different look to the Vale side as they went out for the 3rd Set, highlighted wit a superbly 'aced' serve by Graham Bird. The passing improved, enabling setters Steven Liu and Ellie Austin to move the attack around, whilst some good hitting from Paul Jeffries and some intelligent play by Phill Mould started to stretch Welwyn's defence. Weleyn began to panic and as they did, Vale grew in confidence. The 3rd Set was in the balance at 12-12, but despite some good commitment, Vale never really got on top of Welwyn's attack. As confidence drained so did the quality of the passing and Welwyn were able to take the 3rd set comfortably in the end, 25-13.

Despite the result, there were plenty of positives for Vale to take away from this game. It was good to see everyone able to adjust their games in order to switch play away from Welwyn's block. When playing with confidence, Vale looked competent in defence. Against lesser teams Vale will certainly be able to compete this season. If Vale can improve on their weaknesses in the passing game and the Middle block things are looking promising for this Vale team.

Team: Sara Clarke(c), Jem Clarke, Phill Mould, Graham Bird, Paul Jeffrey, Kevin Pistak, Ellie Austin, Steven Liu

Most Valuable Player: Ellie Austin