Dolphin Volleyball Club
Match Results - National League Mens - 2 Dec
Date: 2nd December 2007
Venue: Dolphin Leisure Centre, Haywards Heath
Match 1 vs RAF Harriers.
Result: Sussex Dolphins beat RAF Harriers: 3-0 (25-18, 25-23, 25-22)
After the previous weekend defeats to Danes Watford and Tonbridge and the loss of one of the strongest players in the squad to a broken ankle, Sussex came out with a point to prove. The team came out with a winning attitude and some good serving by Gary Hill soon gave Sussex a 7-2 lead.
Although the RAF came back into the set to draw level at 17-17 with some good play by their setter, the quality of pass from Sussex and strong hitting won through. The second set was a close run affair with the teams trading points up to 15-15 then some power jump serving by Marian Jura finding the corners and the lines gave Sussex the edge and gave Sussex a sufficient enough lead to keep RAF Harriers out.
In set three Sussex had a break down in communication and some poor serving which let the RAF put Sussex under pressure. Still Sussex stayed into contention to 14-14 then a run of serves put Sussex 19-16 down. Sussex crept back and some steady serving by captain Gavin Henneker brought Sussex level at 21-21. John Burlet then took serving duty and served out the set to take the match three sets to nil.
Player of the match: John Burlet
Match 2 vs Dartford
Result: Sussex Dolphins beat Dartford: 3-1 (25-17, 24-26, 25-14, 25-20)
Off the back of the win against the RAF Sussex started strongly and some solid serving from Vlad Sipula and a six point serving run from Stefan Nordt saw Sussex go 15-6 up. The passing and attacks from the Dolphin squad saw them build on the solid lead to be 18-9 up with some excellent cover by Matt Rogers. However a loss of focus let Dartford come back and although Sussex were never going to lose the set, taking it 25-17, they
started the next set slowly and let Dartford's big four hitter stretch their defence. Although some good hitting by Gavin Henneker and John Burlet brought them back into the set some panic play brought in errors and allowed Dartford to take the set 26-24.
Coach, Tracy Bateman, made a tactical change in the third and Dolphins stormed the set 25-14 with better communication and team play. Sussex again rested on their laurels in the fourth and were 20-18 down when Marian Jura had another strong serving run to bring them back into contention and some good team play saw them take the set and the match.
Player of the match: John Burlet
Squad: M. Jura, V. Sipula, G. Hill, S. Nordt, G. Henneker, M. Rogers, J. Burlet.
Coach: T. Bateman
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