Women’s Honours
Yarra Ranges 3 – Camberwell Cobras 2
2nd (Yarra) against 6th (Camberwell). Camberwell has the unusual record on only having played one three set match for the season. All of the rest were five set matches and this one was to prove no exception.
The Honours Women team had had an ordinary lead up to this match. We had what was effectively a three-week break due to the long weekend and a Bye.
Add to this, our Comedy nite taking one of the training nights, our two setters not being above to train during that week, and the scene was set for what could have been a major upset.
As it turned out, we played a game that was a direct reflection of the lack of training. Serve and serve/receive was just that little bit off, sets were not as precise as they had been in the preceding matches and our finishing was more than a little erratic.
Other teams may have faltered with all these problems, but this group of ladies is a pretty special. When it was time to step and do the hard work, everyone, did the little bit extra to show that the earlier wins were not just luck. A superb serving display by Georgia to win the match when scores were locked at 10:10 in the fifth set sealed our fifth consecutive win.
Congratulation ladies, a thoroughly deserved win. This win elevates Honours Women to the top of the table again.
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Women’s Div. 1
Round 8 - Yarra Ranges (3) def Camberwell Cobras (1)
Very, very exciting game from the sidelines, all the girls were exceptional today which is a positive. Makes it very hard to split the votes!
Cobra’s are made up of good senior players with the combination of a few hard hitters, always serving well, and tough in back court. It is definitely a good sign when you can beat such a team when they are at full strength. Cobra’s were 2 games clear at the top of the ladder, and with this being only their second loss for the season they were never going to go down without a fight. We won’t see this team again until finals, and with today’s result the confidence will be boosted.
All of our players had good games and yet I know they can all play better!
Nicki Bishop was a handy inclusion yet again to make up the numbers, and I think she enjoyed her game. A little casual on the serves, but still consistent enough. Playing pass-hitter and then opposite, she always had an impact.
Amy is still looking for the form she had at the start of the year, but still had another good game. Passing was great however her hits were a little astray. She makes up for this with well adjusted hits and tips. A few minor adjustments in her approach and more time spent with Ash’s sets at training will help.
Ash set well today as always, but more practice is needed at dropping the outside balls consistently in the same zone. Her tipping game and movement to the ball were very good today and she served well to position.
Michelle and Mandi were two of the standouts today, Michelle filling the pass-hitter position left by Suzi quite well. Her passing was better, but will improve even more with corrected arms and lighter footwork. Mandi passed a lot better today and moved really well to the ball. She is a great option to have as libero when Danica is unable to play, however her serves are also an asset and usually very hard to judge.
Kat, Ingrid and Emily shared the middle again this week with blocking preparation improving but execution only slightly better. Kat started a little rough but came back strong and had a good game. Ingrid needs to play stronger and toughen up those hands on the block. Her attack is proficient, however the serves need more control and confidence. Emily is a very good contributor no matter where she plays. Her serves today had good direction, as too her middle hits and a couple of overpass attacks. All three girls played well but their transition during points needs to be faster in order to draw more of the opponents’ blocks.
Great win today and made even sweeter knowing we weren’t at full strength with the exclusion of Kate, Josie and Danica due to prior commitments and injury.
Jon Miller - Coach