Riga Men's first team match the women and start with a win!
NVL Division 1, 15 September 2007
3 - 1 (25-13, 25-14, 23-25, 25-18)
Match Report by Dan Turnbull
Riga opened their 2007 / 08 account with an impressive display against Newcastle Staffs at the weekend. A solid display from Riga’s new look passing unit (Chris, Chris & A.N. Other) provided setter Phil Wyles, who despite missing the last 3 weeks of training through holiday, with good ball to find all his hitters.
The first set begun evenly with both sides trading side outs up to 6-6. The advantage then swung Riga’s way with a service run from John Gilling, opening up a 9-6 lead. From here Riga never looked back, restricting Staffs to side out points only, whilst each Riga server that went back was able to add to points the overall tally. Phil W served out the set 25-13 to take a comfortable first set.
Riga established an early lead in the second set, which they never looked like surrendering. It’s was once again Riga’s side out game that did the damage, just as in the first set restricting Staffs to side out points only. Riga were now running both front and back court options with relative ease. Time outs from Staffs at 15-9 & 22-14 only delayed the inevitable outcome.
Staffs, as expected came out strongly in the third set and it was them who opened up the early lead, with strong hitting in particular from Staffs player / coach Ant Viggars, who was later nominated Staffs MVP by Riga. At 14-17, Tom Young called his first time of the match. Riga responded in the correct manner, forcing Staffs into there own time out at 19-20. However, Riga’s fight back proved in vain as Staffs sided out to take the third set 23-25.
A fifth set never looked on the cards after another service run from John put Riga 13-6 up. This seven point lead maintained throughout the remainder of the set as Phil once again looked to use both front and back court attacks. At 21-15, Dan Turnbull was replaced by Manuele Monti to make his Riga debut. Riga took the forth set and the match 25-18.
MVP was awarded to Chris Anderson (UK), just reward for a solid all round performance.
Riga Squad: Chris A (UK), Chris A (NZ), Kees, John, Dan, Phil W, Phil H, Manuele, Matt.
Coach: Tom Young
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