Aylesbury Vale Volleyball Club

Match Report: VK Barnet, Home 19th March 2006

3-0 win: 25-4, 25-21, 25-6

Team : Bruce Archibald, Chris Seal (Capt), Graham Bird, Ivan Dunleavy, Nicolas Lasbistes, Paul Clarke, Sara Clark & Tim Chandler; Coach: Nigel Collins.

Aylesbury Vale Volleyball Club beat VK Barnet 3-0 (25-4, 25-21, 25-6) at Halton to leapfrog Watford and regain the top spot in Herts League Division 2. Welwyn lie third with games in hand and one fewer loss, and their last match of the season against Vale will decide the title. Aylesbury rested key players but still won very comfortably against a weak Barnet side which struggled on service reception.

The outcome looked clear from the start of the first game, as Vale won the ball and then setter Sara Clark reeled off 14 consecutive points with her carefully placed lob serves including several aces. Captain Chris Seal had a 7 point service run as Vale closed out the game 25-4. In the second game, Barnet showed that they could play good volleyball once the passing unit got the ball to the setter to distribute. Vale were complacent and made too many unforced errors but scrambled to 25-21 with some consistent hitting from Bruce Archibald. Aylesbury reapplied their grip in the third game, not allowing Barnet any points on their service. Good blocking by Ivan Dunleavy and backcourt hitting from setter Nicolas Lasbistes contributed to a 25-6 win and with it the match 3-0.

Set 1 rotation (1 to 6): Bruce (OH), Sara (S), Graham (MB), Chris (OH), Nicolas (S), Tim (MB).

Set 2 rotation (1 to 6): Bruce (OH), Sara (S), Graham (MB), Paul (OH), Nicolas (S), Ivan (MB).

Set 3 rotation (1 to 6): Chris (OH), Sara (S), Ivan (MB), Paul (OH), Nicolas (S), Tim (MB).

Nigel.