Home comforts for TSW thanks to win VOLLEYBALL

SATURDAY’S game for Team South Wales against Tendring at the University of South Wales Sport Park was a special one.

Not only was it the last home game of the season, but (TSW) had to give up only one set in after losing Alex Petrovna to injury.

Jose Castro’s team were determined to bring their best play.

TSW started the first set confidently and with good passing and side-out play. Setter Mara Mata was able to serve all her attackers, which made it difficult for Tendring’s block to be organised. The gaps this left came to good use to outside hitters Marinka van Bergen and Tina Gillespy. With the lead changing between the teams up to 19-19, eventually Tendring won the set with 25-23, despite a winning streak that brought TSW four points in a row.

In the second set, the intensity remained high and TSW started off where they left off at the end of the first set. With bold play with excellent defence from Amy Bradbury, good blocks and strong serves, TSW left Tendring to make their own errors. The strong attacks from middle player Petra Kaiser and offsetter Nia Baker proved too much, and the set went to TSW.

With a new enthusiasm, Jose Castro fired up his team to take the next set as well, and with confidence, the players started the third set. Mara Mata’s well-placed serve made a good start, and wing player Aggie Kozlowska made use of the quick sets on the outside position, as she has been training as a middle player with the team. Nonetheless, Tendring took advantage of a good serve series and won the set.

It had to happen for TSW in the fourth set, as they could assure one extra point on their overall results chart. The team fought hard, and the middle player Diana Beljaars managed to secure a few points with a quick set from Mara and a block on Tendring’s main outside hitter. Unfortunately, TSW got stuck on the difficult serves of Tendring, who had changed their tactics to all-or- nothing.

This paid out for them, and they won the set, and left Wales with a 3-1 victory.

TSW’s next Super 8s game is on Sunday, March 12 against top team Polonia SideOut London in London. TSW are sponsored by CM Utilities Ltd, and also run a youth section, and welcome new players.

Contact can be made via teamsouthwales.wix.com/ volleyball.