National Ladies KO Cup 3rd Round, 19th January 2003, Wessex v Warwick Riga
Wessex 3
Warwick Riga 2 (25-22 20-25 11-25 25-22 16-14 )
Riga responded to the challenge of a KO Cup encounter with 1st Division outfit, Wessex, with the performance of the season so far and possibly, the best since Tom Young took over as coach of the Warwick team.
On paper, mid table Wessex, an extremely young side boasting several England Juniors, supported by some seasoned veteran players, should have been confident of a comfortable 3-0 win, but anything can happen in the Cup. Riga made the trip to Poole, relaxed but determined to do themselves justice. An early blow was the absence of Captain and power hitter, Rachael McCarthy, struck down by illness the day before.
Riga got off to a shaky start in the first with nerves getting the better of them reflected in a score line of 6-0 before Young called a hasty time out. Riga regrouped and drew level. With the confidence levels rising, the game started to flow. Outside hitter, Emma Sik, was substituted mid way through the first set for Sally Keates to give Riga a taller front line to match that of Wessex. Riga were always a few points behind but powerful hitting from an on form Marinella Cadoni and Dawn Woolmer, sent out a strong message that Wessex had a fight on their hands. Wessex closed the set 25-22.
Riga retaliated in the second and took an early lead. The tactic of hard serving had the Wessex defence in disarray and unable to put up an effective attack, through the middle, their main scoring zone. Even when they did, Woolmer and Peryer’s block shut the ball down. Riga were on a roll and levelled the match 25-20, one set all.
The third set witnessed a Wessex collapse and Riga could do no wrong. Cadoni and Keates were devastating and when Wessex did manage to get the ball back the Riga defence in the form of Libero, Julie Bromell, was ready and waiting. Wessex crashed out 11-25 and an elated Riga had victory in their sights.
Wessex had other ideas and came back out fighting. Riga struggled on the first pass as Wessex fired the serves in. Again a timeout helped to calm the Warwick girls down and point by point they got themselves back in contention. Wessex showed their fragility again in defence and Riga capitalised. Young brought on Azerbaijan international, Gulshan Afmodiyeva. At 6 foot and left handed she caused Wessex even more problems as the block struggled to make contact. Disaster struck, when at 22-23 down, Afmodiyeva netted her serve giving Wessex set point which they converted to force a final set.
Riga looked dead in the water at the turnaround 2-8 down as Wessex had found their momentum. Miraculously, the Warwick girls worked all out and clawed their way back to 6-12. Liz Young went to serve and Wessex were forced to time out at 10-12. Riga were back in the game and the momentum had shifted again to the Warwick side. Cadoni and Keates pulled out some tremendous hits under pressure and Woolmer and Peryer closed down the Wessex middle attack time after time leaving the opposition at a loss.
At 14-14, Riga thought it was their match having come back from the dead but a cruel twist of fate turned the tables. A close fought rally resulted in the referee blowing for a carried ball against the tall Azerbaijani. Riga contested the decision but to no avail and were facing match point against them. Another long rally ensued finishing with the Wessex middle player launching herself at the ball which rebounded off Keates and died at the net. Wessex had got out of jail and they knew it.
The Wessex Coach, Geoff Allen, was full of praise for the Riga team ‘ Playing like that, there’s no doubt they would hold their own in the top flight’. Tom Young was elated with the girl’s performance even though their cup run had come to an end. ‘If we can play like that in our remaining league games then we are still in with a chance of promotion. The team was inspired today-I can’t pick a player of the match as they were all outstanding’.
The team travel to Manchester this weekend to face league leaders Tameside for the return match. Only Riga and Wolverhampton have beaten the northerners so far this season. Riga cannot afford to drop a match now in what is a tightly contested league with at least 5 teams still in the running for promotion.
Liz Young