Devils Local and National League catch up

Since the last post Devils have played Worthing Demons and Dolphins Local League, South Hants National League and Essex again but this time in the National Cup.

To keep Steve's interest I won't write full match reports for them all :)

The Demons game started competitively but Devils experience showed through and they finished the sets stronger winning 3-0, with Mel missing Trees set.  Katie Lay helped out and had good game covering well through six and putting away some nice hits.

The Dolphins game was unique as all the Devils were early/on time and Captain Sintija was so keen to get going had them warming up at 17:55 half an hour before the start! The team was Gem and Agi in the middle, Chantelle and Brinee outspend and Sintija and Trees opposite and setter.  The warm up must have worked as they stormed the first set.  A poor running of hitting cost the Devils in the second set and they were 8-0 down before  spirited fight back to win the second set.  The third set went to Dolphins but more clinical finishing and consistent serving saw them win the fourth comfortable to remain undated locally.

South Hants away saw a pleura of supporters turn up, Martin and Andy Wareham, Gemma, Howard and Todd as well as Amy's sister!  A positive start saw Worthing go 2-0 up, with Amy hitting well through the outside with Chantelle.  Devils then switched off as Hants improved and pushed back fighting for every point to pull the game back to 2-2.  A positive response saw Worthing win the fifth though!

The cup and another trip to Essex and another 5 setter - Worthing are getting used to these at the moment!  Cait made her first appearance for Worthing but Brinee was missing which meant that Cait was partnered by Trees, then Chantelle and finally Paulina through the middle!  still the main thing was a result a win for Worthing and a visit soon to Swiss Cottage!

Here's some pictures of the warm up as the rest were rather blurry!

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

Devils play an improving EG2

Devils took on EG2 missing Amy and Em (playing with Angels).  The team set up with Brinne and Chantelle through four, Agi and Gem in the middle and Sintija and Mel in there usual spots.

Simon had stepped up to coach EG2 and managed to get a team together roping in Lou and Elaine from the first team and sweet talking others to play.  Sintija always the thoughtful host captain gave the serve to the opposition.  A tentative start from both teams saw EG get the better of the early passage of play with Elaine and Simon organising and encouraging the team.  The game turned on Chantelle’s serving supported by Brinee finding the line and Sintija covering big areas of the court encouraging the team to pick up the level of their performance.  Those 7 points pulled Devils back into the game and the young EG team looked a little nervous.  A big hit from Lou encouraged them but wasn't enough to get them back into the game, with Gemma’s sneaky serve picking up runs of points and the set finished 25-16.

The same Devils team started set 2 and again traded points at the start of the game, a rested Agi though tested her shoulder out and picked up 8 points many ace’s to give Devils a 14-6 lead which looked insurmountable for EG2.  Good spells setting and serving from their 49 made the game interesting and although a come back wasn’t on the cards EG played nice volleyball and smiled throughout (except when facing Sintija’s serve when it was more of a grimace).  Tree’s came on to set for the second half of the set, although it took awhile to get used to getting in quickly the setting its self looked good! 25–14 was the final score.

In the third set Sintija and Trees shared the setting and Katie Lay started through the outside after joining us halfway through the second set (just back from beating Brighton Pitates 3-0), although Devils started well building a 8-2 lead EG came back though Elaine’s serving and better first balls in which enable their front court of Faber, Popova and Treween to run a more effective attack.  Devils remained strong and saw the set and game out 25-19 

MVP’s went to Sintija