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

It's Christmas......well it's October and we are planing our festive socials!

For all Club members Local and National we are trying somewhere new for the Christmas meal Limings Mexican restaurant.  Our Social Secretary Amy is organising this for 2nd December and the booking needs to be confirmed ASAP so speak to her quickly if you want to come!

We can't get into the hall on 25th November so there will be no training but instead we will be going over to the Chilli Pickle for a curry and then Ice-Skating.  Let Dan know if you are interested in joining in part or all of the evening.

Christmas mini triples tournament will be run instead of training on 18th December followed by drinks at the North Star.  A Teamer will go out shortly so Andy can try and get even-ish teams (by coincident "Team Lay" won last year consisting of Andy, Matt and Katie!) please respond to the teamer or let Andy know if you can make it.

MVP's for September and October...

Here's the total MVP's leader board for Worthing.  As you can see everyone is still in with a chance of claiming the title of Most Valuable Player.

An epic 5 set battle!

I haven't even started writing this match report but have a feeling that i could waffle on due to the nature and length of the match, an epic 2 hours 15 mins.  You have my since apologies if this is the case! Also I tend to forget to include the MVP so in case I do it was Paulina - well played! 

Two cars travelled up to Essex to spend the day in a cold and dusty sports hall while the sun was shining outside.  The journey up was pretty uneventful with only the cry of "eww hummus" as Chantelle spattered herself, which amused the rest of the car.  Both cars arrive simultaneously and with an hour to spare, so spent the time chillin' in the sun munching on M&S goodies.  Mel took a little trip, years of practice with glasses of wine showed as she didn't spill a drop of her coffee although had scrapes all up her arm and bruised her knee! Not the most auspicious of starts for our setter!

Set one had the Farley's through the middle, Paulina and Chantelle outside and Sintija and Mel opposite and setter.  A few errors from Worthing saw them give momentum and an early lead to Essex.  Paulina struggled early on with playing in a different system although was a natural by the end of the five sets and kept smiling throughout (a rarity I'm told).  Both teams looked a little edgey and tense and they traded points until the number 25 from Essex served four on the bounce and from 16-12 Essex kept that gap until the end winning 25-20.

Not wanting to lose the first two sets again Worthing came out in fighting spirit but Essex matched them and their number 30 caused issues with the serve receive winning 7 points and giving Essex the lead 12-5.  Paulina serving at 8-15 brought Worthing level was a fine display of float serving and supported by some big blocks front court.  At 24-21 Worthing though they had the set in the bag but Essex had other ideas and the 25 brought them back to 25-24. With Essex at 26-25 Paulina dived low and to her right managing to get a strong hand to what looked like a sure winner for Essex, saving the point and keeping the team in the set.  But still either team blinked with consistent serving and no one making errors the set kept going until Chantelle stepped up to serve at 29-29 to put Essex under pressure with solid deep serves and good first balls into Mel gave her options and a stuff block from Sintija (which she celebrated on her own!!) and a clever tip from Paulina got Worthing the set and back into the game - 31-29!

Oh to set three and after winning that mammoth set lasting 32 mins Worthing started stronger consistently getting runs of serve and putting Essex under pressure mixing hits with tips. The Brinne serve might not have been the beast it was against Richmond but it was made up for but intelligent hitting the "Byerly special" tip was employed to good effect and a couple of blocks front court had the girls dancing on court!  Treesy as always covered big areas of court and did well calmly recycling hit after hit to keep the point alive and Worthing came out winners 25-20.

The fourth set again was a slow starter, service and simple tipping errors gave Trinity a boost that Worthing couldn't afford early on and they struggled to get back into the game.  Chantelle's serving again helped but couldn't claw them back.  Essex middles did well getting to the outside and we're getting a strong double block to both the Worthing outsides.  Paulina did well wiping off them and finding some acute angled hits, but in the end Essex won 25-21.

Worthing went into their second five setter this season tentatively going into the time out 8-6 down and not serving well and at 13-9 heads were down.  A good serve deep to one gave Worthing a free ball which Trees hoovered up and Mel gave Paulina a lovely set BOOM a kill to one. Sintija hit the next from back court and suddenly it was a different team - the noise levels were up and two shanks brought Worthing level.  Chantelle pushed on and a block from Trees and another shank saw Worthing just claim the win! A good competitive match all round! 

Although we have to play Essex in the cup in a few weeks and again at home - let's not have 5 sets there!

A professional start in Div2!

The national league team played twice this weekend, at home to South Hants and away to Richmond.  Chantelle couldn't make the games as she was on a jolly to Poland, luckily her mum and Craig are more dedicated and still came along to support the team.  Agi is on Maternity leave (hope the scan went well) but came along to help out by doing a line.  The rest of the team were available for the home game.  Hopefully at some point we will be able to get a full team photo, but I don't know when....probably the Christmas meal!

Paulina started her first game for Worthing through the outside with captain Theresa, Em and Brinee were though the middle with Sintija and Mel opposite and setter.  Gemma, Amy and newbie Tracy were on the bench along with coaches Dan and Mr Byerley who was making his first bench appearance for Worthing NL!

South Hants had a tall team that looked to dominate the net, happily for Worthing Brinee was matched against their tallest player and while giving away 3 or 4 inches still managed to get strong hands to most balls while putting away some big hits herself.  

From the start Worthing dominated through strong serving putting Hants on the back foot.  Paulina stepped into the serve receive with Trees and Sintija pretty seamlessly and good balls in gave the setter options.  Some communication issues still need to be resolved, but it was good to see the team try and implement what they have been working on in practice. 

Gemma came on at the end of the first two sets and although not confident going on, she made a positive impact and started the third set for Em.  Tracy came on to set for the final two sets in place of Mel linking up well with local team mate Paulina and Emma through the middle.

The third set started positively with Worthing building a comfortable lead again off the back of strong serving from Brinee, Paulina and Sintija.  Gemma in the process of running in for a quick attack through the middle slipped, which had everyone concerned, although she bounced straight back with a grin it seemed to cause the team to lose focus for a couple of points, before rallying and finishing professionally to win 3-0.

The first home tea of the season was pretty good with traditional Latvian goodies, which were scoffed down along with the standard cakes (no home made ginger cake though!), sandwiches, fruit etc although Nigel was a little disappointed that Em had hidden the crisps!

The team were very keen to start against Richmond on Sunday and due to a slight technical issue were two hours early rather than the standard one!  On the plus side we got to watch a good game between Richmond men's second team against Norwich, their juniors were impressive and even pulled off a textbook pancake for the crowd!

Amy and Gemma couldn't make this game so we were down to the starting six from Saturday along with Tracy, who started setting.  A solid first set saw Worthing control the game for long spells, although Richmond had a ever say die attitude and picked up a number of balls Worthing thought they had finished.  The first set saw Trees put away a nicely run b ball and Sintija ran a crossover that went narrowly wide (no complaints about the communication there - the call could be heard back in Worthing!!) off a good pass in from Paulina. Sintija also pulled off a sneaky dump off the second ball that is becoming a trademark move for her!

In the second set Mel smoothly came on for Tracy and set well finding the middles and getting balls out to the ariel for Trees!  Paulina kept her focus and even with a timeout called she kept serving her usual strong float causing difficulties for the Richmond serve receive. Worthing build a lead they didn't look like giving up.

Richmond in the third set came out stronger with their outside hitter finding the line constantly and the number 16 middle dominating the early exchanges.  A couple of minor tactical adjustments the coach should have mentioned earlier resolved this and the team fought back narrowly dropping the set.  Mark will be upset we got caught out by an early short serve, which had Trees scrambling, while she got a hand to it, there was no way to recycle it.  Em kept head 19-16 down tipping into the space at 4 when they had a double block on her to get Worthing a point and serve, but they couldn't quite claw back the initiative and lost the set 

Keen to avoid the lottery of a fifth set Worthing wanted to finish professionally and Brinee started this with her bullet serve, after three or four of these a short serve was thrown in for an ace, which the team all appreciated!  The Farley's continued to linked up well with Brinee setting Trees for a change and what a beautiful ball it was..... Trees took full advantage spiking a clean winner into the gap.  Paulina not to be out done was hitting well testing the block and getting  points from some good angled shots.  In the end Worthing controlled the majority of the game with their serving and serve receive to edge the win.  "That's the way aha aha I like it"!

Choosing an MVP for Richmond was tough, in the end it came down to the number 16 through the middle and the setter - the setter edged it.  For Worthing our captain (Trees) picked up her first MVP of the season - well played!

Worthing are back in action next weekend away to Essex.

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