WEYMOUTH BEACH OFF TO FLYING START

After over a 20 year absence Weymouth Men’s Indoor Volleyball team made a very successful return to the National League this weekend with two victories over much more experienced opposition.

After success in the cup last weekend, the team travelled to Portsmouth to face two sides who both ended last season very respectably 4th and 5th positions in the league, Urbond and Guildford. Being new comers to the league Weymouth knew they would have their work cut out.

The double header saw Weymouth take on Urbond VC first up, who they had previously met in the National Cup last season. The home side came out hitting hard and attempted to over power the new comers. Weymouth were not having any of that and played consistent volleyball throughout the match. Solid serving from Sam Groom and consistent hitting from Tom Allen were significant factors in Weymouth’s success in the game. Also, an MVP performance from Ryan Stout reflected his good decision making from position of setter.

After a great start, winning their first set back in the National League 25-19, the team could not replicate that in the 2nd losing a tight set 23-25. After that slip, Weymouth came back fighting and won the next 2 sets 25-20, 25-23 finishing 3 sets to 1 victors.

The second game of the day for Weymouth brought Guildford VC. Changes were made for this game, bring in Liam Tewkesbury as an outside hitter and Darren Harding through the middle. Tewkesbury was able to show his improved decision making with some good hitting throughout the match, regularly finding gaps in the oppositions defence and wiping hits off the block. The Weymouth side did struggle to defend against some good hitting from Guildford’s middle men but this was not enough of a problem to stop Weymouth coming out 3-0

Winners 25-17, 27-25 and a dramatic 27-25 finish, which saw a time-out called with Weymouth 18-24 down. Weymouth managed to win the next point, bringing Sean Hendry back to serve. Guildford appeared to crumble under the pressure serve of Hendry and struggled to get the ball back with any force. The side won the next 6 points without reply, going ahead 25-24. The teams traded points before Harding,on his league debut, finished the match spiking an overpass into the oppositions court.