Women's BUCS Vs. Oxford University
Wednesday 15th October 2008
The beginning of the season began with our first match away in Oxford. The team all took a vital nap on the coach ride down, preparing their selves mentally for the game. Unfortunately the first set began with a 25:12 thrashing, which may have resulted from the girls still needing to wake up. The second set improved, with the new team adjusting to each others playing styles, but this wasn’t quite enough to turn the set around.
By the third set the fighting spirit had arrived, everyone was relaxed on court, and teamwork conquered as the girls pulled through to take the set. Kate Allsopp showed impressive determination (but a little over eager on one occasion) to pick up every ball and Aimee Nixon was undefeatable at the net, blocking and spiking relentlessly. The team closed out a hard fought win 25-22.
As the fourth set began Birmingham made a fast start, again mainly through impressive blocking and hitting from the middle players, leading at 10:6. Numerous attempts by the Oxford team were thwarted by good receiving and strong hitting. Though as the set progressed, Oxford slowly found their earlier form and caught up levelling the score. At 21 all both teams, pushed for the finish but the strong line up, including a player from Division One side London Malory, on Oxford’s side resulted in Birmingham missing out a fifth set by 2 points.
The match was thoroughly enjoyable and the progression of the new team on court, to show the teamwork evident at the end of the fourth set was both gratifying and promising for the rest of the season.
Match Facts
Competition: BUSA Midlands League Division One.
Played: Away.
Result: Lost 1-3.
Set Scores: 25-12, 25-16, 22-25, 25-23.