Men's BUCS Vs. University of Warwick
Wednesday 5th November 2008
Following their unbeaten start to the season the men's BUCS team headed to Warwick University for what could have been one of their hardest games of the season, with Warwick having come down from Division One the previous season.
With the team lacking players in the middle position due to injuries with both Kieron Bradley and Wen Liang Lo out injured until Christmas and Jake Lambert not available the team knew that this match was not going to be easy. Setting off from the university at 4-30pm, one of the cars was delayed in traffic and consequently arrived late at the venue leaving stand in coach Kieron Bradley to alter plans for the starting six.
The team gave their usual slow start to the first set of an away game going down 6 points to a tall and powerful Warwick team. However some reliable hitting from Tomasz Hirt and Will Pearson and some accurate setting from Jean-Baptiste Grobert the team was able to quickly get up to speed and close the early gap. With a continuation of good passing from libero Tin Lok Wong the team were able to win the opening set 25-15.
Another slow start saw the team again go points down in the second set and despite their efforts to reduce the deficit they could not pull away from Warwick due to the oppositions new found confidence in their hitters. Some powerful hitting from Birmingham, and the introduction of Andy Herrod-Taylor was countered by powerful hitting from the Wawick middle. However the amount of quality in the Birmingham team became evdident and saw them eventually see out the set 25-20.
The third set saw Birmingham set the scene with fantastic link up play between Grobert and Herrod-Taylor for a devastating back court attack. This took Warwick by surprise and they never recovered from this. Hard jump serving from Grobert saw Birmingham take a 21-6 lead with coach Bradley using the opportunity to give players on the bench point in the set. Birmingham eventually closed out the set 25-11, despite some controversial refereeing decisions, which sees them continue their unbeaten start to the season.
Birmingham have made a perfect start to the season by winning 3 games without conceding a set proving that despite injuries they have great strength in numbers.
Match Facts
Competition: BUSA Midlands League Division Two.
Played: Away.
Result: Won 3-0.
Set Scores: 15-25, 20-25, 11-25.