This weekend presented Tendring with two vital fixtures that could secure their place in Div 2 for next season. The team were optimistic about the results after a solid performance the previous week in Bath and were looking to come away undefeated.

Tendring’s first match was against Plymouth, who have lingered at the bottoms of the league table all season. From the improvement that Tendring had shown through their last few matches, they saw this as an opportunity to dominate from the start. From the first point Tendring demonstrated some skilled volleyball which looked far superior against the scattered Plymouth side. Coach Mark Harris pointed out early on that Plymouth do not block through the wings meaning that Hannah Robinson and Linda Ziverte would have an open net and every opportunity to attack. Tendring took the first set 25-21.

In the second set it was clear that the T

endring girls were still settling into the match and were finding it difficult to establish a rhythm with the erratic play going on the other side of the net. There were also some controversial decisions made by the referee penalising Tendring players which interrupted the girl’s concentration. Plymouth were able to exploit this and took the second set 25-12.

After a team talk from Captain Emily Mansfield and a change in the rotation placing Hannah Robinson back in the setting position and Emily Mansfield through the outside to attack, Tendring were once again focused and ready to reset the tempo of the game. The excellent serve receive from Vicky Southgate and Kat Harris meant that Robinson was able to get the sets out to the wings; at this point Mansfield and Ziverte felt like it was Christmas day and were really dominating at the net. Even with the added defensive player, Plymouth had no chance of returning the Tendring attack and Tendring stole the set 25-23.

The fourth set the girls were really getting into their stride. Kerry Skinner and Kari Cock were doing some substantial damage through the middle, and Plymouth were only able to return easy free balls so Tendring had every opportunity to continue their attack. The Plymouth team had to resort to playing the ball deep into the corners on the second touch which lost Tendring a few points; Gemma Harvey came onto court however to cover those areas leaving Plymouth with no other options. Tendring took the final set 25-22 and left them with an increase in confidence moving into the second tougher match against Sussex Dolphins.