Men's NVL Firsts Vs. SGTV Solent
Sunday 25th April 2010
The men's national league team celebrate winning the National Shield.
Solent had beaten University of Birmingham 21:25 24:26 20:25 in the first round of the Cup and entered the Shield competition only after losing to Malory Eagles in the second round. However the tables were well and truly turned as a weekend of national finals for English volleyball got under way at ten o'clock on Saturday morning when they made the running early on and led 9:6 in the opening set. The university recovered well and Solent were looking dispirited as they ceded its loss.
They played much better in a cracking second set, full of excellent volleyball. However, not once did they receive the encouragement of having their nose in front. Time and again they tied the score - right up to 22:22 but they never got in front. It proved disheartening, therefore, when the last two rallies of the set went to Birmingham: one following a serve they sent long and the next with doubt in their minds about a "touch" decision.
Although Birmingham's Nikolai Nikolev was to receive the most valuable player award for a very good all-round performance, it was Ronald Criss-Koko who sealed the seasiders' fate in the third. They appeared to be getting back into the game when he secured three out of four rallies with great attacks from the right flank that took the score from 3:4 to 4:7 - and followed up the third by serving an ace. Slowly, Birmingham went further and further ahead to gain revenge for that early season loss.
Report curtesy of London Volleyball Association
Match Facts
Competition: Mens National Shield Final.
Played: Away.
Result: Won 3-0.
Set Scores: 18-25, 22-25, 15-25.