Sharks show promise with epic opening game!

The Sharks finally kicked off the 2015/16 season in the first week of October travelling to Brighton to face Brighton Freedom, one of the top teams in the league last year. Unlike last year were there was lots of scrambling to pull together six players, this year they went with a full complement of seven, ready and raring to go.

Lining up with Dominic & Eber through the middle, captain Tim setting, Mark opposite and Vlad and Kishan power hitting through the outside they started slowly in the first set. 13:17 down at the first time out they pulled it back to 23:23 on the back of quality serving from Mark & Vlad and won 27:25


Second set started with Jin in for Mark and was another slow start giving Freedom another head start 4:11 but again pulling back to 23:23 before losing 23:25. 


Third set was a better start with Mark back in, Eber connecting on a couple of quick sets and Vlad dumping behind the blocks. Sharks pulled out to 10:4 before the tables were turned as they got stuck on a couple of troublesome serve receives losing 20:25. 


Fourth set was with Jin again. This time serves were swapped backwards and forwards, but some great play including the longest rally of the match with great cover on both sides. Sharks pulled ahead in the final stages, Tim targeting the sidelines with his serves to win 25:20. 


Final set and again the Sharks were slow to start 6:1 down at the first time out. They pulled it back to 10:10 with Eber dominating the net but got stuck on a serve rotation again losing 11:15. 

Whatever the result, they managed to maintain a higher standard for longer and put together some great passages of play. Just need to be quicker out of the blocks.........

Sharks 2014/15

The Sharks are the Mens third Team playing in Division two, they have a number of players new to volleyball this year and a few more experienced players (mainly poached from rival teams EG and Brighton!)!  All of them are characters on and off the court!

Back Row: Jin, Dominic, Eber, Vlad (the barbarian)

Front Row: Kish, (Sandrine the Coach), Mark, Tim (Captain)

The very first SHARKS match report! By Dominic

Almost a whole season has passed without a specific match report for the Sharks. However Sunday was significant as there was a whole squad, including a substitute, and a coach! Sharks were at home to Brighton Freedom, who were third in the league. (but with games in hand to go top -ed)

Sharks started with Captain Tim setting, Mark opposite, Dominic & Eber through the middle and Kishan and Jin on the outside. Sharks started well and pushed Brighton all the way through the first set however, when it got to 20 all, Brighton managed to open a small gap to get the first set. At this point Vlad remembered there was a game on and appeared in time to play though 4 for parts of the second & third sets!

Sharks managed to put some good sequences of play together with strong blocking at the net. Brighton managed to pick out some of the gaps in back court and create enough of a gap to win 3-0. Sharks have one more game this seasons to try and finish sixth in the league. Hopefully the team will be able to stay together and build on this year's experience  to finish nearer the top next season.

Weekend round up

Sharks fought hard with two ladies helping out for the first time this season, but lost to a ever improving Brighton team. MVP Kish

Angels though notched up their first win (hopefully of many) 3-0, with both Tayna and Sylwia playing well. MVP Em

Devils also won 3-0 at home to EG2 who also are improving each time we play them, helped by having Elaine there to guide them and take control in the moments they got pulled out of shape. MVP Sintija

Sharks lose to Storrington

The Sharks played Storrington with a make shift team calling upon the support of Chantelle and Josh.  A strong Storrington team featured Emma and Zuz plus strong hitting from a couple of players that help their first team.

The first set went to Storrington with comparative ease as the Sharks got used to one and other, but improved in the second set with good hitting and back court cover from Chantelle and MVP Kishan.

Some great pickups and strong serving from Storrington's MVP, Emma, ensured they closed out a much closer third set.

A Great Weekend for Worthing

Well done to the ladies for winning both National League matches 3-0 and 3-1. They remain undefeated in their first season 😀

The Sharks played against East Grinstead 2 without many of their regulars and both Dom and Matt stepped in to help Kishan, Iain, Ebber and Ben. Despite a great effort they eventually lost 3-1 with Iain securing MVP and a great performance from Ben who must have pushed him close for the decision.

Last match of the evening saw he Vipers take on a confident a Eastbourne who arrived with the only remaining 100% record in Div 1. The Vipers were without Mark and Jimmy, but welcomed back Nigel and Turbo. The Vipers started set 1 very strongly playing some of their best volleyball this season securing a convincing first set with relative ease. Eastbourne started to play better in the second set, but some good blocking from Andrew Crockett and hitting from Mickey saw the secure a much closer set. Into the third set and it was a close and intense end to the game. The vipers closed the match out 3-0 and highlights include some great pick ups from Turbo, a sweet middle from Andrew and great blocks.

The win opens up the league that see's Vipers, Arun, Eastbourne and Brighton Arun all having lost one match!

Wins for the Jets, Demons, Vipers and Sharks take a set from Brighton

The season started well for Worthing Volleyball club with wins for the Jets in a 5 set thriller, Demons winning 3-1 and the Vipers 3-0. The Sharks lost 3-1 away to Brighton, struggled to field a team, but were helped out by Trees, Chantelle and Sandrine.

The Season Starts This Weekend!!!!!!!!!!

The new volleyball season starts this weekend and all of our clubs are playing!

Sunday 15th September we have...

Home - WHS...
18:00 - Jets vs Horsham
20:00 - Vipers vs East Grinstead

Away - At Brighton and Hove School NOT Lancing Sports Centre
16:00 - Brighton Teela vs Demons
18:00 - Brighton Panthers vs Sharks

Monday 16th September at St Pauls College
20:00 - Dolphin1 vs Devils

Home teams please ensure you have enough players to officiate the other match.

 

Please let me have your match reports and any pictures and I will get the posted straight away.

 

Good luck all teams for another successful season :-)

Sharks beat Adur 3-0, but lose to Jets 3-1

Well done for the Sharks beating Adur 3-0 and the Jets who then beat the Sharks 3-1 to cement second place in Div2 and promotion to Division 1.

The Sharks had beaten Adur earlier in the day and hit the ground running in the first set against the Jets who struggled to get things going.

The Sharks had a full squad except for Jon and Ross and it was the first time in many games that they did not need help from other teams with their starting six. The Jets started without Matt who joined them for the third set once he had lost his koala outfit!

So a strong start from the Sharks with good hitting from Luis through the outside, Lars through the middle all  thanks to good passing from Jan and Ebber plus great setting from Tim and Paul. A close finish to the set, but the Sharks were clearly the stronger team in the first set. The Jets mixed things up in the second set and were "encouraged" by Martin on court and Andy from the side to wake up and get moving in back court.

With Bernard, Kishan,, Dom and Josh finding their range the Jets won a close second set and carried the momentum in to the third set which they won after some close rallies before the Jets pulled away.

The Jets won 3-1 with Josh and Paul picking up MVP for their respective teams.

It was a good final match of the season for the Jets that saw them lose only one game to Hastings who have won the league on sets difference. This is a remarkable turn around from last year when the Jets only won two games all season! It has been a great team performance and pleasure to coach them and I look forward to a challenging season that awaits us in Division One next year.

The Sharks still have a couple of matches to complete in a season that they have struggled to field the same team and have relied on the ladies plus cover from the Vipers and Juniors. They will end in the top half of the league, but if they can get out the same players more consistently they should be challenging to make it three teams in Div 1.

It was a good game played in a good spirit and thanks goes to all that helped officiate and cheer from the side lines

.

Sharks lose to Hastings 3-1

Sharks had Matt and Dom helping them against the league leaders Hastings. With just six players they started with Tim and Paul setting,  Lars and Matt through the middle and Luis and Dom through the outside.

The first few points were hard fought, but Hastings built an early lead. The Sharks finished strong and carried the momentum through in to the second set which they started very well. They wrapped up a close set 26-24 winners thanks to great back court coverage and excellent blocking from Matt and Lars. Dom and Luis contributed with great hitting through the outside, but the third set went to Hastings to make it 2-1. The final set started close, but Hastings experience and desire to win showed though and they won the match 3-1. Tim picked up MVP, but it must have been a tough decision as they all played very well. Thanks to Trees for taking the following pictures.

Devils beat Kings and Sharks beat Horsham

The Devils beat kings despite a spirited performance from the visitors. After winning the first 2 sets comparatively easily Kings fought back strongly to win the third set. The fourth set was very tight and keenly contested before the Devils ran out eventual 3-1 winners.

The Sharks again struggled to field a team and with Tim, Paul and Ross all unavailable Andy Lay stepped in to set with Dom making up the 6 playing opposite. With Luis and Jan through the outside and Jon and Ebber through the middle the Sharks started strongly with some great hitting and blocking. A good all round performance resulted in a 3-0 win. Dom hit well and Jon managed to find gaps in the oppositions defence which enabled him to pick up MVP despite struggling to end the match due to injury.

Sharks lose a 5 Set Thriller!

The Sharks welcomed Ross to the team for his first match of the season where he played through the middle with Paul and Tim setting. Jon played through the middle with Eber and Luis through the outside. Despite the different line up the Sharks started well securing the first two sets with relative ease thanks to some strong hitting from Jon and generally good team play from everyone. Adur Panthers changed things around and played a new opposite who looked liked he had played at a higher standard before and they secured a close third set. The Sharks worked hard and took the fourth set to the wire, but were unable to close it out and the match move to a final 5th set. The Sharks could not have started the set any worse and at the turn around they had failed to win a single point. Strong words in their second timeout and the Sharks started to put up a strong fight and put Adur under pressure. They managed to secure 11 points before Adur won the set which just went to show what they could have achieved if they had started the set with the same fighting spirit. Jon secured MPV and Ross had a good start through the middle where aggressive blocking and good off speed hits to the corners won the team many points.

A Scratch Sharks Team beat Adur 3-1

The Sharks continue to struggle to field the same 6 players for another match and this time were helped by Andy Lay and Trees as both Paul and Tim were unable to play due to work commitments.
The Sharks lost the first set as they adjusted to the new line up, but came back strongly in the second set with some canny tips from Jon and good hitting from Eber and Luis through the outside.
A slight wobble in the third set until a great pick up from Eber and improved hitting from Lars through the middle. The Sharks cruised to a 3-1 victory and how to have a full squad for the next match.

Sharks beat Kings 3 - 1

Sharks were struggling to field a full team with Paul and Jon both unavailable so Andy stepped in from the Vipers to coach and play for their match against Kings2.

The Sharks won the first 2 sets with relative ease once they got used to playing with a 2 setter system again. Strong serving kept Kings under pressure along with consistent hitting from Lars through the middle and Luis through the outside.

Tim varied his set well and managed to find the line with some reverse hitting to keep up the pressure early in the third set, but Kings rallied to take it to a fourth set. The Sharks dominated the set with good hitting from Eber and Jan. Kings did not help themselves by trying to dispute decisions with Emma who, as usual, was not taking any nonsense! Luis picked up MVP and the Sharks look forward to their next match where they will hopefully have less problems getting six players together, but I just hope they will be able to cope without the strong serving of their guest Viper ;-)

Sorry for forgetting to take team pictures, but probably best to wait until you have a full team anyway!

Sharks v Hastings Match Report from Paul H

Sharks Travel to Hastings
Sunday 11th November saw a depleted Sharks Team head to Hastings.
Tim was sunning himself in Mauritius or somewhere equally exotic which meant that Jan had to play out of place and take the role of opposite.
With 15 mins until the 1st set we were still waiting for John and Eber to find the location and Paul was looking at his watch.
With the mighty 6 Sharks finally in place and ready to take the court the match began.
The Sharks were asleep for the first set and were played off court and finished 9-25
The second set saw new vigour from the sharks and with Paul managing to get 6 serves in a row with great blocking and defending from the whole team Sharks took the set 25-15
Sharks continued to play well but Hastings stepped up a gear and began to attack in the 3rd.
Sharks lost the 3rd and 4th Sets 21-25 & 19-25.
John Gauntlet took the player of the match for his constant hitting and blocking. It was a long drive to Hastings and the Sharks were disappointed with the result. That said all the team played well and kept their heads up playing well.
Sunday 18th sees Sharks playing at home to Kings player numbers permitting.

Worthing Sharks 2 Worthing Jets 3

This was a very competitive match that saw the Jets retain their 100% record this season. Jets won a close first set, but after poor starts in the next 2 sets the Sharks took a 2 sets to 1 lead. The Jets made another poor start to the 4th set, but pulled it back to a 13-12 lead before up stepped Martin to jump serve 10 points in a row and take the match to a tense 5th set decider.
Martin was unable to repeat his serving heroics, but fortunately for the Jets Iain and Dom managed to find their hitting range as the Jets secured a comfortable final set victory. Luis secured a well deserved MVP for the Sharks and Dom picked up the honour for the Jets. Both teams had key players missing and despite rumours the Jets coach did not give Jon the tickets for the Man Utd Chelsea match which prevented him from playing for the Sharks��