Ladies seconds play 10 sets, but only win 5!

NVL Division 3C, 28 January 2007
Warwick Riga II 2 City of Bristol 3 (25-18 25-21 19-25 14-25 7-15)
Warwick Riga II 3 Leicester 2 (19-25 25-17 19-25 25-23 15-10)

Report by Clare Francis

Warwick Riga Ladies 2 travelled to Leicester on Sunday for a double headed against City of Bristol and Leicester. Coach Andy Collins was keen that the team could win both games, so the stage was set....

Despite only having 7 players for this double header, Warwick started strong against City of Bristol. Every member of the squad fulfilled their role and the strong team performance saw them close out the first set 25-18. Inspired by this performance the team went out in the second set to do the same. Excellent support from the back court, coupled with some good hitting from Jayne and Penny through 4, meant that Warwick could do no wrong (assisted by some dubious setting from Bristol's setter) and the team won the set 25-21.

Andy tried to gee the team up by commenting that "psychologically this is the hardest set to win" being 2 - 0 up. The team started off by trading side outs and points with Bristol. However, not being ones to disappoint, a "psychological" moment took hold, and Bristol fought back to take the set away from Riga, 25-19. Riga never quite got the momentum back and Bristol eventually took the game, 3 sets to 2.

This meant Riga had to win against Leicester to continue its 50% win ratio this season! The first set saw a deflated Riga go through the motions against Leicester and unforced errors saw Riga lose the set 25 - 19. A stern talking to and the team went back out for the second set, determined to salvage something. Some excellent hitting from Michele and Ellie and the team regained its fight and took the set 25 -17.

However, it appears in the third set that the "psychological" moment was back, as were the unforced errors! However, Riga dug deep and hung in there but Leicester's libero seemed to be everywhere Riga didn't want her to be and kept recycling the ball. Eventually, Leicester took the set 25 - 23. Determined not to lose a second 5 setter, Riga set off strong in the fifth. At the change it was 8 - 6 so all to play for. A strong run of serves from Clare Francis, together with some excellent team play, saw the team take it to 14 - 6. At that point, Clare realised she'd never served that many in a row, and in true muppet style, served the next one out! Leicester thought they were back in the game, but only managed to reach 10, before Riga sided out to take the set and the game 15 -10.

So 5 hours and 10 sets of volleyball with only 7 players, means there will be a lot of stiff people on Monday morning (Happy Birthday Jayne Warman!) and training on Tuesday should be interesting!!

VIDEO - Click on the images below to see a video of the team - BROADBAND USERS ONLY!

Michele Blocking	Ellie hits through middle	Jayne hits reverse

PICTURES - Normal users!

Jayne and Ellie blocking	Clare and Michele blocking
"Psychological" team talk from Andy!	Penny hits through four