East Midlands Regional League Wednesday 28th March Leicester Athena 3 Hermitage 0 With a number of players unavailable, Athena fielded a different system, played people out of position and a played a number of newer additions to the squad. Even with so much disruption, the skill and hard work of the team still cemented a satisfying 3-0 win against Hermitage. Athena switched to a 2-setter system with Faye and Alex setting. Sarah moved to outside with Adela and Monika played middle with Sam. Erin played as libero. It was the first time that Monika had ever played as a middle hitter, but she did a fabulous job. Athena eased themselves into the first set and the score was very even until strong serving by Alex, Faye and Monika pulled out a big lead. But it wasn't just the serving, some of the attacks by Adela, Monika and Sam were spectacular. Athena deservedly won the set 25-14. The second set was a lot closer as Hermitage fought back. Athena's first pass become ragged meaning that the setters had to work harder to create chances. Athena struggled to build much more than a 3 point lead all through the set and it was only at the end of the set that Athena drew away to win 25-21. Coach Paul made changes and brought Rebecca on for Monika who moved to her preferred position as outside hitter leaving Sarah on the bench. They started strongly and built a good lead and Julia came on for Adela to develop her experience. Athena closed the match out with a 25-20 set win. Well done to Sarah for collecting her first MVP nomination of the season. Everyone played their part and it was a very good performance considering the number of new players and the new system.
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Leicestershire Local League Sunday 25th March Leicester Athena 0 Leicester Uni 3 Despite their best performance of the season, Athena's local league side lost to Leicester Uni 3-0.
Athena started with Ioana and Hannah setting, Emma and Charlie playing middle and Julia and Algi playing outside hitters. Athena started very brightly and went into a 4 point lead, but they ran out of steam towards the end of the set to lose it 22-25. The second set was a tight affair all the way through, but superior serving by Leicester Uni turned out to be the key. Nikki came on for her first match and drew a big cheer when she dug her first ball nice and high to the setter ... a 14 year old mixing it her elders. Athena struggled to get going in the third set and Leicester Uni won the match, 25-22, 25-20, 25-14. But with a 17 year old captain and a 14 year old making her debut, the performance and the progress is not what is most important. The team as a whole played with much better control, accuracy and teamwork. East Midlands Regional League Wednesday 21st March Leicester Athena 3 Ashfield Vipers 1 Athena's regional league team overcame a dreadful start to beat a well-drilled and well-organised Vipers 1 team.
During warm-up, Kamila injured her knee and was left on the floor in considerable pain. She was taken to hospital for an x-ray as warm up continued, but the loss of one of our own in such a way affected the team. With Kamila injured, Kristy moved to middle with Sam, Monika made her debut as outside hitter with Adela and Sarah set with Alysia as opposite. They started the first set slowly, making uncharacteristic errors but still kept pace with Vipers. Neither team managed to gain more than a 3 point lead throughout the set and with the score at 23-20 down, coach Paul called his second time-out and told his team that they were going to win the set. With solid serving from Alysia and Adela, Athena ground out the first set 27-25. Faye came on to set with Sarah moving to outside in place of Monika. Vipers started the second set strongly and slowly eked out a lead to stand 13-7 then 16-20. But a superb round of accurate and damaging serving from Adela and a magnificent display through the middle by Kristy wrenched control of the set from Vipers and Athena won 25-23. After such a tight set, Athena seemed to dip in energy and focus in the third set and Vipers took advantage with their MVP, Kenworthy, coming up with some excellent hits. The introduction of Monika for Sarah and Alex for Alysia did nothing to halt the slide and Vipers won the third set 25-13. The fourth set was another tight affair with serves switching from side to side and neither team able to create an advantage. Once more the set went down to the wire, but Athena refused to be beaten and closed out the match 25-23. It was a fabulous match, a clash of styles with neither team giving any quarter. Kristy deservedly won MVP for a performance of real power and effort. All thoughts now turn to Kamila and fingers crossed that her injury is not serious. East Midlands Regional League Saturday 17th March Nottingham Rockets 0 Leicester Athena 3 Athena overcame another sluggish start to overpower Nottingham Rockets in the East Midlands Regional League.
With only six players available, and with Sarah not feeling her best, Faye took over setting duties and put in a composed performance. Alysia played as opposite, Kristy and Sarah played as outside hitters and Kamila and Sam played through the middle. Rockets started well but a little bit of inaccuracy by Athena with the first pass meant that they could not make their firepower count. Rockets sped into 9-3 lead before Coach Paul called a time out to help the team re-focus. Slowly, Athena began to take control of the match, slowing the first pass down and allowing Faye to find her groove. Kristy was deadly as outside hitter, winning a stream of points. As the set came to its conclusion, it was nip and tuck as the lead changed hands but Captain Sarah served the winning points to take the first set 27-25. Athena were more assured in the second set but were never allowed to run away with it by a defiant Rockets team. Sam took the ball at 11 each and served well to help Athena gain a 5 point lead which they never looked like giving up an they won 25-18. The performance in third set was a little more erratic with some truly standout moments when Faye and Kristy combined to devastating effect and as Kamila and Sam blocked out some dangerous attacks. Athena slowly strangled the life of out Rockets to win the third set 25-17 to seal the match. Congratulations to the team for a strong performance and well done to Kristy for her fourth MVP award of the season. Leicestershire Local League Thursday 15th March Hermitage 2 Leicester Athena 1 After a very lethargic start, Athena's local league team fought back well to push Hermitage all the way.
Athena started with Emma and Ioana setting, Liza and Kamila through the middle and Teo and Julia as outside hitters. But the first set was disappointing as the team took time to gel. Hermitage played solid volleyball and won the set 25-14. With Algi making her debut for Teo and Charlie replacing Liza, Athena started the second set in a much better shape. There was a lot more movement and a higher work-rate and it meant that they edged a tight set 25-22. Liza came back on for Charlie and Athena looked a lot more settled now. They worked well to pull out a strong lead, Julia's calmness and vision creating lots of points, and they were leading 22-18 until a case of nerves struck the team and they let the set (and the match) slip 25-22. It was a real shame because, after such a sluggish start, the team had done really well to get into a winning position. But team is still inexperienced and, having not won many games, it is understandable that they don't yet have the resilience to close games out. East Midlands Regional League Wednesday 7th March Leicester Athena 3 Nottingham Casualties 1 Without head coach around, Athena’s regional league team prepared to play Nottingham Casualties, a new team to the regional league this season. This meant that Captain Sarah and Co-Vice Captain Kristy were in charge for the evening, putting more on their plate then ever before. The first set started with Sarah setting, Kristy and Julia outside, Sam and Kamila middle, and Petra as opposite. In true Athena style, they started the set off slowly, making mistakes in the back court which meant it was more difficult to put out a decent attack. However, after some words from Sarah, everyone started to pull together as a team, but it seemed a little too late as Athena lost the set 26-24. In the second set, Alex replaced Petra as opposite so that Petra could move to the outside. Athena seemed more determined and better prepared this set and, with a more solid first pass, they really started to get into the swing of the game. After some great support and cheers from the sidelines, Athena won 25-22. The third set was smoother sailing compared to the others. With the same lineup as the second set, Athena pulled away from a defiant Casualties team, including the play of the match, where Petra managed to save the ball off the side of the court and win the point from it. At one point, they were leading 18-9, so Faye replaced Sarah for the setting duties: the first time playing in a one-setter rotation with this team. The team did well, and they won the set 25-12. With little time left to play, Athena were motivated to win this set. With the same lineup as the end of the third set, Athena were met with a strong comeback from Casualites, meaning we had to fight hard for every point. Both teams eventually got to 24-24 and after a couple of points, Athena were ahead 26-25. The game winning point started with a great block from Sam from Casualties hardest hitter, which set the ball up to be received, set, and killed. All of the squad erupted with joy as they won 27-25. Thank you to the Nottingham Casualties for being such great competitors. But more importantly, thank you to our substitution players, scorers, and ref for supporting us throughout the game. Match report by Sarah Booth
East Midlands Regional League Wednesday 28th February Leicester Athena 3 Loughborough Uni 0 The regional league team eased to a 3-0 victory over Loughborough on a bitterly cold night.
With a number of players missing, Athena showed a real strength in depth bringing Alex, Faye, Julia and Liza in to play alongside captain Sarah, Adela, Sam and Kamila. Athena started well with Sarah setting, Alex playing as opposite, Sam and Kamila playing as middle hitters and Adela and Julia playing as outside hitters. They opened up a strong lead early in the first set through the serving of Adela and Alex and despite a late rally by Loughborough through some fierce serving, Athena closed out the first set. For the second set, Faye came on as setter, Sarah replacing Julia as an outside hitter. Athena went to sleep in the second set with the first pass very wayward, making Faye's life difficult. It was nip and tuck all the way through to 18-18 but Adela and Alex's serving once again pulled out a lead. After some stern words from the coach, Julia replaced Sarah on the outside and Athena leapt into life powering away to a huge lead, winning the final set 25-9. It was not a pretty performance, but Liza played well when she came on as a substitute, Sam's back court work was as good as she has shown all season, Julia showed the amount she has improved this season and Alex and Faye got time on court to develop their understanding with the team. The regional squad looks in good shape as we get to the sharp point of the set. Huge thanks to Phil Cobb and the Loughborough team for making it out as temperatures dropped to minus 6 outside. It was very much appreciated. |
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