The English Volleyball Association unveiled its new competition in Leicester on Sunday in front of a good crowd of local enthusiasts for the sport and a sprinkling of spectators from far and wide around the country, the gate receipts all going to support the work of the Prince’s Trust. Around the matches the organisers staged a coaching workshop for young Leicester players run by England men’s team coach, Ian Legrand, with the help of the London Docklands players. Between the matches, lively music was played maintaining a cheerful atmosphere inside the sports centre at Cannons Health Club. Everyone enjoyed an excellent programme of first class volleyball with a sparkling and informative commentary and the innovative idea of projecting the match score onto the wall during the match and to use the illuminated display for other announcements and acknowledgements during intervals.
London Docklands, London Malory and Warwick Riga are the three leading men’s teams in English volleyball and for this competition their squads were strengthened by the inclusion of many of the best players from other clubs. Thus Sheffield’s Efe Eruero and Sam Thompson, Cambridge’s Steve Jump and Mo Slitti and Aaron Stolberg of Aquila Lynx could star for Docklands. David Rijvers (Aquila Lynx) and Tom Stevens and Tom Ward of Sheffield were able to augment Malory’s powerful line up. Andy Sinclair, also of Sheffield, was able to shine in Riga’s ranks.
Andy Lynn & John Gilling attempt to block Malory's Alex Bialokoz
Matt and Kees scramble whilst Phil gets the ball up
Play began at midday with Malory playing Riga and, after a tentative start by both teams during which the Londoners opened up a slight lead, Warwick increased the pressure with Canadian Andy Lynn hitting and blocking well, Kees De Hoogh making the most of his height advantage and John Gilling having a good all-round game. Ed Ekanem served an ace to bring the first set point and an outstanding block by Andy Lynn immediately followed to underline the superiority they had established. Malory tightened their blocking after changing ends and three successive powerful blocks that opened a 5:0 lead seemed to kill Riga’s confidence. They were able to attempt a smaller repertoire of moves and it seemed that Malory were reading most of them as Mark Brown, John Hedlund, Tom Ward and, especially, Steve Fee converted Tom Stevens’ relaxed setting into point after point. John Hedlund was acting as team coach in the absence of Jefferson Williams in Glasgow for the women’s international between England and Scotland and Clayton Lucas, who was unwell. He will have been delighted with this start.
Mid afternoon saw Riga against Docklands and after close early exchanges, Ian Legrand’s squad opened up a five point lead, Mo Slitti playing well and Aaron Stolberg setting out on what was to be a superb exhibition of his skills although local boy Chris Anderson who spent his early days at the Leicester club deserved the applause for his spirited performance. However, Warwick saved three set points, the second with a great block by Ed Ekanem and Andy Sinclair and the team changed ends with a spring in its step. And came out fighting. The confidence of the first set against Malory had returned and the whole squad was playing well and, with Docklands refusing to be subdued the excitement was electrifying. Four times the Londoners took their lead out to just two points; only once did Warwick get their nose in front: at 10:9. At twenty all, Andy Sinclair hit through the block; he won the next rally wiping the ball off the block. Docklands needed a time out and the underdogs, the crowd by now thoroughly on its side, scented blood. Mo Slitti and Aaron Stolberg kept their side in the game with good attacks while Andy Lynn and John Gilling responded with an amazing smash and block respectively. Aaron’s diagonal smash saved one set point but Mo Slitti’s subsequent serve went into the net. We had another real contest. Set three: even to eight all, then Riga gradually pulled away to lead 18:13 setter and captain Phil Wiles inspiring all his team. Then Docklands came back Efe Eruero, Andy Vincett and captain Albrecht Glitz attacking at the net and coming within a point at 20:21. Then Sam Thompson served wide and Albrecht Glitz hit wide in successive rallies leaving Ed Ekanem and Kees De Hoogh to show them how to do it.
John Gilling attacks Docklands
Ed Ekanem (playing for Riga) joins Phil Wyles in the block
The day’s feast was finished with a repeat of this spring’s Cup Final as Malory faced Docklands. With Steve Fee exchanging the hitting role with Morph Bowes who had earlier played libero, Malory looked an even stronger side and they soon took a slight lead. The previous results were no indication of what was to follow though as Albrecht Glitz, Aaron Stolberg, Boris Halatchev and Efe Eruero for Docklands traded blow for blow with John Hedlund, Morph Bowes, Mark Brown and Andy Carr for Malory for whom Alex Bialokoz made his trademark attacks at regular intervals. From thirteen all, Docklands seemed to raise its game forcing a time out at 16:13. They never seemed in danger after that although a textbook attack through the middle by Mark Brown brought his side to within two points at 24:22. A textbook three-man block was Docklands’ response. The second set was even tighter for the most part although Malory opened up a five point lead at 14:19 before Docklands tied the score again at 20:20. Again, the excitement was intense and both setters, Andy Vincett for Docklands and Tom Stevens for Malory deserve congratulations for the way they continued to supply passes of variety and precision in the tense atmosphere. Docklands just managed to keep the momentum going and the match was theirs. A third set had to be played to satisfy the competition’s format and, although it was close throughout, Docklands had relaxed a little. In fact, this was enough to give them the lead on several occasions up to 14:12 but as the final stages were contested, it was Malory who held the initiative and, as a result of so close a match, it was Riga who were to lose out.
The scoring system, devised by Andy Hopper of Docklands and approved by the organising team provided another innovation: three points for a match won plus three points for each set won, two points for a set lost if your score was 22 or more and one point if between 15 and 21. All matches played being of three sets – not best of three. It made the atmosphere and competitive spirit very different from the round robin format of a division three match in the Prosport National Volleyball League. We move on to St Nicholas’ Park in Warwick for the second round of games on 1st February.