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Photos: Natasha Allen
York’s volleyball firsts fell to their third successive defeat and were knocked out of the BUCS Northern Conference Cup as they lost 3 sets to 1 against Northumbria 2nds. Despite taking the first set, they were outclassed in the second and third. Although they rallied late on, the visitors comfortably took the fourth, leaving York to rue a sub-par performance.
A cagey opening saw little to choose between the sides. However some good team play and powerful smashes from Chris Stent saw York gradually edge in front. Having been locked at 6-6, York steadily turned the screw to take a commanding 18-12 lead. Yet Northumbria rallied, tying the score at 19-19. With the momentum having well and truly shifted, it looked as if York had blown their chances of taking the opening set. Digging deep, they won five of the next seven points to put them within touching distance, before a Sven Sabas smash made it 25-22.
However York failed to re-emerge after the break as Northumbria raced into a 4-0 lead. Although York fought back, they remained behind and struggled to build any sort of momentum. With the score at 10-6 to Northumbria, the visitors took 15 of the next 16 points to comfortably take the second set.
Things failed to improve in the third set as York remained comfortably second best. Having established a grip on the set, Northumbria once again went on to dominate. Already 10-5 up, they won 10 of the next 12 points as York capitulated, winning the set 25-12.
Having fallen behind, York finally rallied. A tense opening saw the score tied at 6-6 in the fourth. Yet Northumbria held their nerve while the hosts lost theirs. Taking the initiative, they established a 5 point lead from which York never recovered. 22-13 down, confusion reigned on the home side as the ball hung in the air before dropping tamely between everyone in a moment that epitomised their performance. Despite a late fightback, it was a case of too little too late as Northumbria took the final set 25-17 to win the match.
Speaking after the match, York Captain Panayiotis Nearchou was left to reflect on what might have been: “We didn’t play as well as we can. I am disappointed. We had a good set, but lost a few points and just gave up. We have played some really good games but this was not one of them.”
“We lacked communication, we lacked concentration, we just gave up. Having said that, they were a good team on the other side of the net and played well.”