WEM2 fail-twice!

White Eagles second men's team hosted their east London opponents on the back of a good run of results. The last time these teams met, WE went down from a dominant position in the fifth set and the men were keen to not have a repeat.

The first set showed that the teams were evenly matched as the scores paralleled each other . Neither team were able to establish a dominant position with the Eagles passing unit offering up a quality ball for setter, Carlos JOHNSON to use, but with too many unforced errors throughout the team allowing Lynx to stay in touch. As the set progressed, Darius SETSOAFIA took the place of stand-in outside hitter Radu CINPOES and Eagles started to take some level of control. Initially WE pulled out a single point lead but as the set got to the final stages they were able to add points via a block and a defensive recovery to take the set 25-22.

The second set followed the pattern of the first except that Eagles managed to cut out their mistakes until midway through the set. This lapse in concentration allowed Lynx back into the set and again made for a tight end to the set. However, with Eagles again in ascendancy, WE were soon able to take the score from 16 all to 20-16 with David JENKINSON forcing the Lynx into errors by making the passers move, before securing the set 25-20.

Eagles continued strongly in the third set, although the bench was reluctant to join in. As M2 secured a 15-11 lead, JOHNSON replaced himself with CINPOES and the team seemed to lose all ability. While previously Dammy BAKARE was hitting kills from backcourt he now started hitting errors; the passing unit seemed unable to put a ball where CINPOES was able to use all of his options and the outside hitters were also unable to convert. With the scores at 18-20, JOHNSON had no option but to re-introduce himself but he was not able to inspire the team to take the set, and game, with Lynx taking it 23-25.

With Lynx in the ascendancy and Eagles struggling following the turn around of the previous set, the fourth set was always going to be a struggle. So it proved, with Lynx dominating from early on. The inexperience of some of the WE team showed as they were slow to steady themselves and the visitors took full advantage to take the set comfortably 18-25.

Once again a fifth set was to be played and Eagles started strongly, with JOHNSON serving to a 4-0 lead. When the teams turned around at 8-3 there was surely no way that history would repeat itself. All Eagles needed was to trade and could even afford to lose the odd point but anxiety seemed to take control again. With Lynx scoring at twice the rate of Eagles, the set was lost 13-15 and the game 2-3.

WEM2 lost to TH LYNX 2-3 (25-22, 25-20, 23-25, 18-25, 13-15)


SQUAD

Fabio ANTONIAZZI (Libero)
Dammy BAKARE
Radu CINPOES
Donald DEANS
David JENKINSON (Captain)
Carlos JOHNSON (Coach)
Wolfram LANGE
Roger MULLINGS
Robbert VAN HEEL
Darius SETSOAFIA

MAN OF THE MATCH

Robbert VAN HEEL