It was a close match all round, with both teams making errors due to it being their first ever game. Napier looked like a physically stronger team with their starting six being taller and more muscular than edinburghs. They started off with an early lead in the first set beating the defense in the deep court. However Edinburgh pulled back and after several passing errors on their opponents side caught up. The Napier block started to tighten up as the edinburgh offense grew to start beating it and in return napier’s offense started tipping to pull ahead. However some rotation errors caused the teams to be neck and neck at 24-24. Napier took a service ace and then blocked the side out to win the first set.

The second set EUVC M2 came in with a different determination, having got used to their competition, they started pounding away at napiers defense with their strong wing attackers, while keeping the tipped balls in play. Very quickly Edinburgh won the second set facing the sun.

The third set seen Napier try to pull back tightening up their connecting passes to get their setter the best chance of offense plays but Edinburgh’s team are well practiced in defending hard attacks and kept in the game. The tight block of napier was formidable so many points were gained rolling it past them at sharp angles and with well connected middle quicks to bring the score once again to 24-24. This time it was Napier who would hit a serving error to give euvc the 2-1 lead.

The fourth set started off with both teams in high spirits. Napier started swiching up their attack, pushing edinburgh to some tight calls at the baseline and hammering through any gaps in their block but edinburgh soon had their tallest players up from and that was shut down. Edinburgh started conceding points due to lack of communication with some easy balls left to drop in between people. Things were looking down when an opportunity was spotted by their offense: Napier’s libero was missing passes and getting angry.

Going into the final set 2-2 EUVC grew confident and exploited the weakened defense with some cracking hits from every position, and although conceded a few double touches with an excited setter comfortably took the final set 15-11

Location

st leonards land