Warwick Riga vs Bristol

3-2 (25-19, 20-25, 28-26, 15-25, 17-15)

Match Report by Dan Turnbull

Riga welcomed Bristol on Saturday looking to avenge the league and cup defeats suffered at the hands of Bristol earlier this season. Riga were still full of confidence after a strong display against Staffs the previous week and hoped to match the performance of last season which saw Riga beat Bristol in 3 sets.

Riga’s starting six: Phil W, Kees, John, Damon, Chris A (NZ), Dan & Luca as libero.

The game started off fairly evenly with both teams trading side outs, however after a series of huge blocks Riga were able to open up a 6 point lead and at 21-15 looked to be taking the set comfortably. A Bristol revival saw them close the gap to 3 points before Coach Tom Young called a time out at 22-19 and a re-focused Riga returned to court to take the first set 25-19.

Bristol responded well at the start of the second set and quickly established a 9-3 lead forcing a Riga time out. Although Riga were able to cut the lead to a single point mid way through the set, it was Bristol that finished the stronger taking the set 25-20.

Riga maintained the same starting line-up for the 3rd set running looking to re-establish their lead. In a close fought set that saw Bristol take a slight advantage it was the serving substitution of ‘English’ Chris Anderson on to replace Dan Turnbull at 16-18 that got Riga back into the set. Four serves later Riga found themselves 20-18 up, although Bristol were not about to give the set up and a short service run of their own gave Bristol the first set point. Determined not lose the set Riga produced what turned out to be their best passage of play. Be it the block or a full length ‘pancake’ pick up from ‘Kiwi’ Chris Anderson, Riga were able to get hands on every Bristol attack. It was then left to Kees de Hoogh & John Gilling to provide the winning attacks as Riga took the set 28-26.

The fourth set was a disaster for Riga, from 5-2 up Riga gave away numerous points with errors from all corners of the court, allowing Bristol to run away with the set 25-15.

Riga’s previous match with Bristol, the KO Cup quarter final had also gone to 5 sets, although that time Bristol ran away in the fifth. Riga returned to the same 6 that had started the match. The teams changed ends with Bristol 8-6 up, which they extended to 10-6 and it looked as though Bristol would complete a hat trick of wins over Riga this season. However the team spirit & fight that saw Riga take the 3rd set and was so obviously missing in set 4 returned and run of serves from Dan and then Phil Wyles got Riga back into the match at 11-11. Despite Bristol reaching match point first Riga seemed to pick up for every ball and the match was taken with block from Damon Minotti followed by ‘Kiwi’ Chris’s hit off the Bristol block, 17-15.

MVP was awarded to Kees.

Riga Squad: Chris A (UK), Chris A (NZ), Kees, John, Phil H, Damon, Luca, Tomasz, Martijn, Dan, Phil W.
Coach: Tom Young