Straight sets win sees JBT sitting pretty in volleyball

The latest round of matches in the volleyball mixed league saw victories for JBT and Sandwick.

Intersport Mixed League

DITT Globetrotters 0, JBT 3
(16-25, 25-27, 14-25)

Play started evenly with both teams fighting for every point.

JBT were the first team to go ahead 19-13 with a run of serves from Vicki Henderson. DITT managed to break JBT’s serve but not for long as they went on to take the set 25-16.

DITT seemed unsettled going into the second set and JBT managed to take an early lead of 5-2 with steady serving from Sharon Powell. Ryan Jamieson’s powerful spike was too much, giving serve away to the Globetrotters. DITT tried to capitalise on this but serving let them down and with several ending up in the net, JBT increased their lead to 12-7.

Some good long rallies continued with both teams determined. DITT had not given up and were unlucky to be pulled up for a rotational fault. Karl Sinclair stepped up to serve for DITT and pulled back the score to 17-15, forcing JBT to work hard. Juergen Kurtz had a hat trick of blocks at the net and excellent tips to keep DITT in the game.

At 23-20 to DITT, JBT were feeling the pressure and took on Vicki Henderson for Sharon Powell. JBT brought it back to 23-22 and tense play followed with both teams fighting for every point.

An excellent pick up by Mark Loynd enabled JBT to make it 24-all.

It looked like JBT had lost the next point when an intrusion from a football resulted in a let. DITT won the point to take it to a nail-biting-25 all. JBT’s Vicki Henderson, Ryan Jamieson and Louise Brinie set up a great block to win the next point and managed to serve out and win 27-25 in what was a very exciting set.

Both teams came out fighting in the third and JBT’s Callum Williamson had a great run of serves to establish a lead of 11-5. Undeterred, DITT dug deep and consistent serving from Juergen Kurtz brought the score back to 11-9. JBT had serve and DITT seemed static enabling Monica Los to increase JBT’s lead to 19-13.

DITT managed to find a hole in JBT’s court to win back serve but this was short-lived and JBT went on to win the set 25-14 with fantastic serving from Louise Birnie and good teamwork. It was a Mark Loynd tip over the net that clinched the point to win the set.

MVPs were Juergen Kurtz for DITT and Mark Loynd for JBT.

Harry’s Hotspurs 0, Sandwick Mixed 3
(13-25, 15-27, 19-25)

The first point went the way of Harry’s Hotspurs but Sandwick replied quickly and took the lead by three points thanks to good serving from Kevin Smith. Hotspurs then regained service and strong serving from Kyle Duncan, along with some brilliant pick-ups from Jillian Copeland, gave Hotspurs the edge.

Duncan’s run of five serves was ended by a powerful hit from Erik Peterson. Peterson’s continuous spikes and an immense block from a wicked spike from Kevin Moar got Sandwick back ahead by five points at 12-7.

Sandwick retained the serve and Peterson added to his superb set form and put Sandwick into a healthy nine point lead at 20-11. The remainder of the set was point-for-point, unfortunately for Hotspurs, Sandwick only have five points to go. The set was won for Sandwick by a cheeky tip by Susan Brunton at 25-13.

Set two got off to an extremely even start as it was genuinely point-for-point up to 10-8 in Sandwick’s favour. Both teams worked well together and executed flowing moves with awesome hits coming from Sverre Riise for Sandwick and Louise Moar for Hotspurs during this passage of play.

Lauris Kurtz stepped up to serve and put Sandwick ahead by five points. A time-out was called by Hotspurs which upset the rhythm of service and gave them the service. Copeland’s serving, along with accurate hitting from Renatta Bielenica and Chris James, gave Hotspurs hope but Sandwick closed in on the 25 points required thanks to good front court play by Becky Peterson, Kevin Smith and Ruth Christie. Sandwick won the important second set 25-15.

Again the third set opened evenly but Sandwick edged an early six-point lead due to sound serving from Becky and Riise. Hotspurs clawed back to within two points with smashing serving and back courts play from Andrew Crossan and a combination of fantastic blocks and spikes by Kevin Moar, with help from brilliant setting from Lindsey Manson.

Sandwick regained a six-point lead through powerful shots from Smith. The set and match went to Sandwick with an ace hit from Erik Peterson at 25-19.

MVP for Hotspurs was Kevin Moar for some fantastic hitting and blocking. MVP for Sandwick was Erik Peterson with a scintillating performance in all positions on the court.

Fixtures Tonight – Ladies League: Bench Warmers v LadySpurs at 7pm; Sandwick v Hoodies at 9pm.