Top of the table clashes, MVP’s, 5 set tie breaks…Its all happening for the GBW in 2012. Lets see how they got on at the weekend…
Belgium: Gea Happel Amigos won 3-0 v Barbar X-Elles
This weekend proved a tough match for Palmer and her Gea Happel Amigos. She reports on her match:
Vicki Palmer attacks for Amigos
“With lots of injuries in the side, the week’s preparation was limited and we only had 7 fit players for training this week. Last time we played Barbar X-Elles they came out with a 3-1 win so we couldn’t underestimate this side. This was a must win game for both sides. The match started off a little slow for the Amigos but with some great plays and team work, we stayed with Barbar. Keeping our nerve we were able to push on at the end of the set and narrowly took the first set 25-23. In the second set Amigos took control but as we always knew Barbar kept on fighting with amazing long rally’s and the game couldn’t have been closer. Amigos stayed strong and took the second set 25-23. In the third there was not much difference between the teams and with both coaches making substitutions for serving, defence was the highlight, with both squads fighting point by point. Amigos finally took the third set and match 25-23.
With only two points separating every set the match couldn’t have been tighter. With a three point win and opportunity for young players to play this was an amazing result for the Amigos. This helps us to keep our position of 6th in the league.“
Finland: Pieksamaki lost 3-2 to OrPo
It was another tough loss for Pieksämäki Volley and Stacey O’Connor. After losing the first set, they clinched the 2nd set winning, 37-35. Pieksämäki gained control of the game, starting the 3rd with a 9 point lead. However, OrPo was able to creep back into the game by passing well and getting some key kills. OrPo won the 3rd set 26-24 and Pieksämäki won the 4th 25-23. The 5th set was a point by point challenge, ending with a loss 13-15.
Stacey O’Connor reported:
Stacey O'Connor
“There were some good plays against a competitive team. We showed up and fought hard with good service and a strong offence. It’s great that we’re playing a better all around game and improving. We didn’t let them get runs of points against us but we did have unforced errors at crucial times. We have 2 weekends without matches coming up, which will give us ample time to prepare well and work hard in training. We have the 3rd round of league play left before playoffs begin in March.”
France:
In ProA, Carter’s TFOC lost 3-2 v Calais
Carter blocks for TFOC
This week Grace Carter’s TFOC had another frustrating 5 setter away to Calais. After stealing the first set 25-27 after being 21-11 down, their momentum continued into the second set as TFOC took a comfortable 16-25 win. In the third and fourth set, TFOC played some great volleyball but played too tense in the closing stages of the sets, allowing the strong attack of Calais to take them 25-20 and 25-21. Calais took control of the tie break from the start, and despite some fighting play from TFOC they once again could not convert it into a victory, loosing the final set 15-8.
In the DEF, Newton’s Quimper won 3-1 v Marcq en Baroeul (25-19, 25-16, 20-25, 25-17)
Qumiper Fans celebrate an epic win
This weekend Quimper beat the leaders of the DEF, Marcq en Baroeul away from home, to take first position in the league for the first time this season. Quimper had a solid start and stayed ahead throughout the first two sets, with some great attacking and blocking. Marcq en Baroeul made a lot of service errors and were unable to cope with Quimpers attack. They looked slow in defence and Quimper looked confident and found the holes in their block and on court. In the third set, Marcq n Baroeul upped their service and started to cause Quimper trouble in their reception unit. Despite some good blocking, Quimper started to make errors in attack and were unable to finish the point towards the end of the set. The fourth set, Quimper took the lead from the start and were attacking and defending more aggressively. Some good service runs finished the game off for Quimper.
Germany:
Alemannia Aachen lost 3-1 v Smart Alliance Stuttgart
On Saturday, in front of 1100 spectators, Ci and Lucy’s team fell to fellow top 8 hopeful, Smart Alliance Stuttgart (26:28, 17:25, 25:19, 21:25).
Another MVP for Michel
The first set looked positive, going into overtime, swinging back and forth between set points, but ultimately went to the opponent. The second set was less fiery, leaving the ladies at 0-2 at the half-time break. In the third set, with less serving errors and a stronger block, the loyal Alemannia fans again had reason to celebrate. But the glimmer of hope faded as the last set the girls could not come from behind, leaving a bitter tasting 1:3 loss.
This may not have sealed the fate of the team – currently sitting at place 10, fighting to be in the top 8 for a chance to play off – but it certainly makes the journey ahead more difficult.
Ci Michel, who earned her third MVP in this match, comments… “This was a difficult loss because we were both in a ‘must-win’ situation, but Aachen is not a team to be underestimated. We have had several unexpected wins (as well as losses) this season, and with 11 matches left in the season, anything is possible.”
Rachel Bragg’s Hamburg won 3-2 v Weisbaden
Holland: DOK lost 3-0 v Peelpush (25-15, 25-14, 25-17)
Jenn Taylor
Jenn Taylor comments on the match:
“DOK v Peelpush was always going to be a tough match, with Peelpush currently sitting 4 places above Dwingeloo. Having strung together 2 back to back wins in the league we were excited to continue our run in the league. However lack of serve pressure had untold knock on effects upon the rest of the game which meant there were only glimpses of the winning DOK team from the previous 2 weeks. Which left the result 0-3.”
Poland: Silesia Volley win 3-0 v SMS PZPS I Sosnowiec
Thursday 12th January saw Silesia Volley take on SMS PZPS I Sosnowiec at home. The last encounter back in October ended in a positive 3-0 win for Silesia and they were hoping to do the same the second time around.
The first set was a comfortable win for the home side. Strong serving on the front court attackers ensured that an offensive rhythm was not established and when chances were taken by SMS the Silesian block ensured that it was not converted. A confident and dominating Silesia Volley won 25-15.
The second set was much more of a battle with SMS taking the lead early in the set, however errors from SMS at crucial pressure points allowed Silesia to creep back into the set and they clinched it when it mattered 25-23.
Laybourne serves for Silesia
A similar set was to unravel in the third with SMS being in control in the early stages in the set. A good solid serving run mid set by Silesia narrowed the 5 point deficit and the home team started to chip away to regain the winning position. Silesia went onto to win the third set 25-22.
Laybourne comments: ‘We really struggled this week in training due to a sickness bug that had been doing the rounds but thankfully key players were able to overcome it quickly to provide a winning performance. The three points we took from the match are crucial and more wins will need to come if we are to stay out of the dropdown play off zone, which is 8th place and lower.
Switzerland:
Volley Koniz lose 3-0 v Sagres NUC (21-25, 19-25, 19-25)
After a midweek win in the European Cup it was back to domestic action for Volley Koeniz. Playing local rivals Sagres NUC as part of the TripleBall event in the arena in Bern, the home team were looking to get back to winning ways in league action. It didnt happen, NUC enacted revenge, on the 1st half of the season where Koeniz won 3-1, with a 3-0 win.
Maria in Serve Receive for Koniz
Bertelli comments: “We are really disappointed with the match on Saturday. We competed until after the 2nd technical time-out in each set and then made too many errors to push to win them. We have to be honest and as a team we are not playing at our best right now. There’s no point sulking about it though. We have to work hard, be strong mentally and build on the good things that we are doing. We dug out an ugly win in the CEV cup last week and we need to keep doing that. We play the 2nd leg on Wednesday at home and I believe its a game we can win and use to kick us going again.”
VC Kanti win 3-0 v Dudingen 3-0 (25-22, 25-17, 25-15)
It was clear that 3 points from this game was essential to VC Kanti’s mission for a top 5 spot and it was evident in this week’s training focus that it was a must win situation.
Kanti came out with lots of energy but some pressure from Dudingen made the team make a few errors early, both in serve receive and offence, with both teams trading for points. As the first set reached the 20s though, Kanti played with an edge more aggression and took the first set 25-23.
Perhaps being able to gain some relief from taking the first set, Kanti then maintained a level of confidence and aggression, taking more risk as the game progressed. With some solid blocking and good distribution at the net, Kanti continued to add pressure, taking the 2nd and 3rd set 17 and 15, respectively and a much deserved MVP for GB’s Osborne, with a Top Scorer’s performance.
Osborne commented:
MVP for Osborne
“This was a really fun game to play and a great all round team performance. It was really important to go out and take 3 points from this game and so a good result. We fought for every point to the end, which will be vital to take into the matches in the coming weeks. However, due to the overall league results this weekend we are now still not 100 percent in the clear of a playoff spot. We now have the same points as Bertelli’s Koeniz and NUC (3 teams all joint 3rd). To guarantee that top 5 place both Koeniz and us could do with winning next weekend’s game – which is against each other. Round two of Swiss Battle of the Brits – let the games begin!”
VBC Biel-Bienne play VFM. VFM won 3:0 (25:17, 25:20, 25:12)
Jennifer Thom
It was Jen Thom’s first appearance for VBC Biel-Bienne on Saturday. Here is her report from the match:
“We didnt start well as we struggled in serve receive. Their servers were good and caused problems throughout our serve receive unit. Our serving allowed us to get some stability and there were some players from our team that put VFM under pressure from serve. Towards the end of the first two sets we showed how we can play and managed to fight right till the end. Whenever we passed well and used the middle we were successful. In the third set, again we struggled in serve receive and we were stuck in a rotation.
This was a tough game for us and we knew it was going to be tough. There is always some postives though which we will take into next weeks game.”
Spain:
In Spain, Janine Sandell’s Menorca were back in action. They started off 2012 with a convincing 3-0 win v Jampere Aguere. Janine was also the best receiver in the game with 82% positive balls from 11 passes.
Lynne Beattie’s CV Las Palmas had a free weekend, but Lynne and her team are working hard in preparation for their first game of 2012 on the 28th January against Murillo.
