NL Division 3E, 9th March 2003
Chiltern Ladies 1 Warwick Riga II 3 (20-25 17-25 25-21 23-25)
Riga ladies second team finished top of their league a few weeks ago and then faced 2 extra play off games to determine who would get promoted to Division 2. We travelled to Chiltern on Sunday - knowing that 2 wins in our final games would see the team go up as champions. We knew this would be a tough game as Chiltern have twice taken us to 5 sets this season.
Both teams started nervously - not surprising given the importance of the occasion. However the Riga team settled down more quickly and we took the first set 25-20.
Set 2 saw every player make a strong contribution as Rob used all the bench - again excellent Riga play resulted in us taking the set 25-17.
Set 3 was very close - Riga seemed to get more nervous as victory edged ever closer and the Chiltern players were starting to hit some cracking shots. Riga lost the set 25-21 and needed to regroup for the crucial 4th set.
A more determined attitude set in and it was point for point with both teams playing some excellent volleyball - Steph produced the block of the season as she simply stuffed out Chiltern's best hitter with a brilliant block. However, Riga then found themselves 23 - 20 down and possibly facing a 5th set. Side out was gained, then, up stepped Emma Wood to serve... she unleashed 2 unstoppable serves to level the match. Chiltern got nervous, called a timeout - and then the Emma Wood show resumed. An ace took Riga to match point and then, another scud of a serve followed - Chiltern couldn't get the ball back and we had won - 25-21.
Big celebrations followed plus a few red eyes as this was Jane Kinnis 's last match before emigrating to the USA. We now await the winner of the Ashcombe/Brentwood match and this game should be at home and will be our play off final - so watch the web site for details of this team's biggest match in our short history.
Sarah Halling