Match Report: Milton Keynes, Away 14th February 2005

2-3 loss: 25-18, 25-18, 15-25, 13-25, 6-15 (side-out scores: 15-8, 13-9, 8-17, 4-16, 0-8)

Team : Ashley Barrow, Bruce Archibald, Chris Seal, Gordon Braint, Nigel Collins, Nishi Saran, Roger Gudge

Set 1 rotation (1 to 6): Chris (OH), Nigel (S), Ashley (MB), Bruce (OH), Gordon (S), Roger (MB).

Set 2: Nishi for Gordon.

Set 3: Bruce (OH), Gordon (S), Ashley (MB), Chris (OH), Nigel (S), Nishi (MB).

Set 4: As set 1.

Set 5: Nishi (OH), Nigel (S), Ashley (MB), Bruce (OH), Gordon (S), Roger (MB).

This was one of those matches that leaves you feeling very frustrated and wondering "how did we lose that one?" The first 2 sets were some of the best volleyball we have played all season, all the spikes were going in, blocking was effective and the digs were actually going to the setters!! Gordon had joined us to set and put in a very good performance, Nishi (who finally turned up after going from Aylesbury to Hemel Hempstead to get to Milton Keynes??!!) took over as setter in the 2nd set joining Nigel who was helping out as setter. Our confidence seemed to be high after going 2-0 up, I'm not really sure what happened next, either MK improved their game dramatically or we did something really wrong, our game totally fell apart and the last 3 sets were won fairly easily by MK. From a personal point of view my fitness level went down and a back injury put me out of the last set, we need to look into how we, as a team, cope with a 5 set match and deal with going 2-0 up and finishing off the game, our use of time-outs was raised as one topic we need to address, also our fitness needs to improve. This is a game we should, and could of won.

Chris.