WEW1 whip Whipps

White Eagles' first women's team started their division one campaign with a trip to the East end to visit Whipps School in Leytonstone. The squad was depleted due to travel and injury and so Eagles only managed 7 players for their opener. This, combined with the new LVA ruling which penalises successful clubs, was a shame as it is these types of matches that will allow experimentation with the team and development of players.

White Eagles started nervously, not really knowing what to expect on their return to this division. New captain, Jessie FORESTER, and Julie KOUAMO formed the passing unit and dealt easily with the weak Whipps serving. The early points were traded and it soon became obvious the WEW1 that they were not facing much of a threat. At 6-5, Linda MOLNES rotated into serve and piled on the pressure. MOLNES served an incredible 13 points, made more impressive by the fact that very few serves were returned. Those few that did find their way back onto the WE side were soon dealt with by Geri SANCHO who gave setter Bethany LOWNEY a quick option the opposition failed to neutralise. An error gave the ball back to Whipps but LOWNEY had soon sealed the set 25-6.

The biggest problem for coach David JENKINSON was to guard against complacency. The game could easily turn into a rout but WE could also lose concentration and let the opposition back in. With encouragement for more of the same, the team took the court for set 2 and promptly took a 6-0 lead via the serving of MOLNES and the setting of LOWNEY. As Whipps were becoming more aware that 90% of all attacks were happening through the middle hitter, the block started to go with the player. Whilst SANCHO was often able to hit before the block had jumped, it offered more opportunity for LOWNEY to use the power of KOUAMO and FORESTER. This change in tactics, combined with the introduction of Sagette DESALLIERS for KOUAMO, caused a loss of rhythm for WE and allowed Whipps to get back into the set but WE still comfortably took the set 25-11.

The third set showed just what can happen if the players switch off. With very little threat coming from the opposition and a switch in tactics by the Whipps coach, moving his big blocker into the middle, Eagles struggled in the early part of the set. SANCHO was consistently being blocked and LOWNEY failed to utilise the outside hitters and off hitter Nathalia BETANCUR. A time out at 3-7 served to wake the team up and they soon regained the lead 15-10. However, confidence appeared to have been rocked and they were unable to dominate as they had earlier in the game, with Whipps coming back to take a two point lead as the teams entered the latter stages. Another time out and the reintroduction of KOUAMO were sufficient to ensure the set 25-21 and the game 3-0 for White Eagles.

WEW1 beat Whipps 3-0 (25-6, 25-11, 25-21)

SQUAD

Nathalia BETANCUR
Sagette DESALLIERS
Jessie FORESTER (Captain)
Julie KOUAMO
Bethany LOWNEY
Linda MOLNES
Geri SANCHO

David JENKINSON (Coach)


PLAYER OF THE GAME

Bethany LOWNEY