YEOVIL 2

WEYMOUTH WAVES 3

WEYMOUTH Waves ended their season by washing out rivals Yeovil 3-2.

Scoring ebbed and flowed throughout the match but Weymouth had revenge in their sights, following defeat to Yeovil earlier in the season.

With outside hitter, Ben Stokey, sitting this one out due to injury, the side relied on the strength of the squad to pull through.

Mat Palmer dived about the court to rescue every scrap he could, laying the platform for the hitters to dominate the net play throughout the match.

In the first set, Yeovil took a 5-2 lead to put the pressure on Waves. Gradually, momentum began to build and the level of Weymouth’s captain and setter, Carl Neal, rose to accommodate.

Matt Board, Rob Semmence and Dom Cosserat rotated well through the middle, each bringing something different to keep the opposition guessing.

The height of Board, power of Semmence and crafty hand of Cosserat allowed Weymouth to save two set points and go on to take the set 26-24.

The second set went the way of the hosts, but again was a closely fought contest and ended 27-25.

Tightly balanced, the third set was dominated by Waves to begin with, submerging Yeovil in the diverse threat through Nathan Curtis and Cristian Postolache hitting from the outside position.

Ben Hart was substituted in for this set and started well by connecting with opposite hitter, Dave Short, instantly as Waves took the set 25-21.

The fourth set was rough for Waves; Yeovil were determined to stay in the tie and worked their block very well. Ben Mills was able to utilise his fresh legs well, but Yeovil did enough to level the match again, taking the set 25-21.

The fifth set, played to 15 points, saw Waves take a 6-1 lead.

Yeovil refused to sink and served hard to decrease the gap to just two points as the teams changed ends with Weymouth 8-6 up, but momentum firmly with the hosts.

At 12-11 up Waves regrouped as a Yeovil supporter attempted to put off the Weymouth server.

Semmence served and widened the gap to three points, giving Waves their first match point but Yeovil recovered.

A monster block from Board and Neal at the net and scrapping from the Yeovil team was enough to see Waves over the line to take the three points.

Volleyball is now suspended amid the coronavirus crisis.

Waves’ MVP: Mat Palmer

*Weymouth Waves Volleyball Club would like to thank their sponsors: Enzo, Cristian’s Telecoms Solutions, Combens, Chesil Beach Motors, Howdens, AiRa Business Solutions.

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