Making sure they had their priorities right and were fully focused on the game, the girls first order of the day was to put the purple laces in and take a team photo. Chantelle and Nigel - we'll have to get an updated one with you next game! (Chantelle was off sunning herself in Lanzarote - no commitment some people!) With Brinee's play-list pumping out tunes like "eye of the tiger" and "Can't hold us' the team started to get into the usual business of warming up in front of a fantastic crowd! Thanks Gemma's Army, the Farley family and our regular supporters it was great to see such a crowd there.
First match was against Cardiff Celts, playing through the outside was Sabrina and Amy, Robyn and Sintija were setter and opposite with Em, Agata and Gemma rotating through the middle. Trees made her first appearance in a white shirt for Worthing in the National League playing as Libero. The first set started off slowly the high light being a beautifully ran short by Emma and Robyn. It was 16-16 when Sintija stepped up to serve, luckily there was a touch on her first serve as it was sailing wayyyy out, but she went on to serve another 5 more putting Celts under pressure and limiting there attacking options. From 22-16 it was just a matter of closing out the set, which Worthing did eventually 25-23, after getting stuck on one rotation and trying too hard to force the middle attack.
Set two started in much the same way as the first with both teams trading points and again it was strong consistent serving that made the difference this time with Sabrina finding her rhythm with some mean serves to give Worthing 15-10 lead. Worthing stepped it up from here with Amy hitting well through four and Sintija defending and attacking well. The set finished a more comfortable 25-18.
Into set 3 would it be a classic case of third setitus? Hell no! It was Worthing's strongest start to a set this match. They were 19-7 up after 4 servers (good work Sabrina, Agata, Sintja and Amy) when they were called up for a screening fault. The usually quiet Emma took exception and the coach had to have some stern words. Her reaction was to absolutely cream the next ball within the 3metre line! Worthing went on to close out the set 25-12.
MVP went to the captain Sintija.
Libero performance 7.5/10 a little lazy swinging and covering the corners, but apart from that pretty damm good.
After stuffing our faces and having a gossip Bristol2 were up. Trees was back to her usual position as outside hitter and captain, with Sabrina taking the other four spot. Mel came on to set and the middle and opposite stayed the same.
In the first set Worthing and Bristol traded points to start with. Strong blocking made a big difference with Agata, Gemma, Em, Sabrina and Sintija all setting the "roof on fire" to help us string together a run of points and put Bristol under pressure. Brinee worked hard receiving and then swing hitting over the block to good effect and I'm pretty sure I saw her dive for a ball! It paid off we won the point and went on to win the set 25-18.
The next two sets Worthing won 25-21 and 25-18 playing better volleyball each set. The hitting got stronger as the sets went on especially from Trees and Sintija but none quite as satisfying as the screamer we finished the match on from Em.
Sintija picked up her second MVP of the day to give her a chance of challenging Trees in the MVP stakes!
Thank you to everyone that helped on the day including Zuz, Dom and Steve Wisdom, Amelia (best scorer yet) and Sandrine as always your help and support is much appreciated!
Two great results girls - Celts and Wessex are up next in the National League on 23rd March again at Lancing.
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