Cambridge vs Newcastle (Staffs)
National Volleyball League Division 1
24/9/11
Manor School, Cambridge

Last season saw ‘Castle claim their first win in Cambridge for many years, but it was their opponents who had the last laugh in that campaign winning a controversial match at Keele 3-2, 17-15 in the fifth set to end ‘Castle’s title ambitions. With such a history between the sides, and the threat ‘Castle perceived this opposition to be to their title ambitions this one looked like being a cracker.

This week Sam Allen started as setter above Alex Jenkins, a selected challenge that coaches Lovell and Roberts are hoping to see all over the squad this season as players fight for their place in the team. The Cambridge side immediately looked unstable in service reception and ‘Castle capitalised on this from the outset with steady and targeted serving constantly applying pressure. However, in the early stages Cambridge looked up for a scrap and a battle with setter Almeida feeding their skipper Luginsland to good effect. As the set went on though, ‘Castle’s advantage at the net began to tell and the visitors began to open up a sizeable lead. Sam Shenton jump served with great maturity for his 17 years and took the set away from the hosts, and potentially the match as their passers looked increasingly forlorn and weak when under pressure. The set was finished 25-15 by ‘Castle as they confidently took control of the match.

The second set saw ‘Castle in even more dominant form as Shenton and Bradbury again looked like a class act as ‘Castle’s passer-hitters. Such was ‘Castle’s dominance at the wings that McKellar and Roberts were almost exclusively playing a decoy role in attack and were able to focus purely on their block – to devastating effect. It was this blocking strength that led to the talking point of the set, and the match. With ‘Castle leading convincingly by over 10 points, and Cambridge’s passer-hitter unable to do much other than tip, he made an extraordinary decision – not to attack the ball, try to use the block or even to tip: but to spike the ball as hard as he could at the side wall in frustration. Shockingly for both the player and one of the Cambridge scorers, his connection was full but inaccurate and the ball struck her full in the face. The match was halted for 5 minutes and the scorer received medical attention before the game began again and ‘Castle closed it out 25-10.

Coach Lovell had shuffled his pack extensively in the 2nd set and started with an alternative line-up in the 3rd with Stew Ross, Andy Saward and Alex Jenkins all starting. Despite the change of personnel there was no change in the result as ‘Castle cruised home. 17 year old Ross was on great form killing an overpass with a vengeance and attacking sharply on a couple of occasions. Cambridge were yet again unable to find any real quality or threat and ‘Castle closed out the match in straight sets 25-16, in just 55 minutes with Bradbury awarded the MVP.

Squad:
Allen, Bradbury, Heath, Jenkins, Lovell, McKellar, Roberts, Ross, Saward, Shenton, Yates