19-25, 30-32, 25-21, 26-24, 8-15

 

Report by Neil MAsters

 

 

Tendring secured a well needed win following a tussle with Cambridge volleyball club. Inspirational setter Nick Davies returned from a ruptured Achilles injury to help Tendring's cause. Davies had been expected to miss the entire season, but his dedication to recovery has paid off.

 

Tendring raced into a 1 set lead but were 5 points adrift as the second set drew to a close. Coach Neil Masters used his last time out and called for the team to fight for every point. Tendring's response was exceptional, chipping away at the deficit time after time. 

However the lead still looked to much to overhaul once Cambridge reached set point. Ben Wilson stepped up to serve with all the pressure on him not to miss. Tendring saved 3 set points to draw level at 24-24. Now it was which team could hold their nerve as it became first team to get 2 points clear. With Tendring losing the first point of the shootout they would have to save 4 more set points, in the process never gaining the opportunity of a set point themselves. It wasn't until Alex Porter came to serve & combined with a huge block from Sonny Chaney did the tables turn. Tendring now had a set point & with the pressure all now on Cambridge, Tendring took control & finished the set an amazing 32-30.

 

In the third set Cambridge suffered an ironic injury as the substitute turned out to be a more penetrative player. Tendring probably still recovering from such a comeback were caught off guard and lost the third 25-21. With the smell of a comeback of their own, Cambridge gained a few points lead which Tendring would never overcome, with Cambridge winning the set 26-24.

 

The deciding set, shortened to first to 15 to increase the intensity is often as much as a lottery as the penalty shootout in football. Tendring had a terrible start making 2 errors and 2 controversial decisions against them had them 5-1 down. Masters called a desperate timeout to settle the players. There was still time left, but no-one would envisage the events that would follow. The two teams traded a point each to make it 6-2. Stuart Dove recalled to te starting line up for the all important 5th set, served 10 in a row. The Tendring team led by Janice Porter award winner James Baker defended as a club on a mission and were ably backed up by davies & porter.

 

At 13-6 Cambridge sided out, ending Dove's service run. With such a huge lead Tendring cruised to their 1st win of 2012.