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Photos: Elise Grimm
The York 1sts women’s volleyball team lost in three sets to a well drilled Leeds side to go out at the semi final stage of the Conference Cup for the second consecutive year. But this belies the nail bitingly close dynamics of those three sets which if things had gone slightly differently at crucial moments could have changed the match beyond recognition.
The first set began with both teams clearly evenly matched, as one would expect from two sides who sit third and fouth in the overall league. Leeds immediately demonstrated themselves to be an extremely organised and consistent side who were hard to break down. York also started strongly making some fine winners, particularly from Katharina Widerhofer, who was a constant danger to the Leeds defence throughout the match due to her shot making abilities.
The two teams remained relatively evenly matched through the early and middle parts of the set. However as the set drew to a close Leeds seemed able to find another level and went through a period of complete dominance. They enjoyed particular dominance on the service, scoring a number of back to back aces and some stunning winners. It seemed for a period that they couldn’t miss and had the York defence in complete disarray. However, as much as Leeds performed exceptionally during this period it must also be noted that York make a number of silly errors that accentuated the score line, moreover they also suffered from some bad luck with net chord deflections often proving unkind to them. Although York did manage to steady the ship as the set came to an end it was not enough to prevent Leeds from coming out 25-15 winners of the first set.
The second set began with Leeds still in the ascendency quickly winning the first three points. Indeed the York defence appeared to be in disarray and they simply seemed to be outmuscled by the powerful Leeds side. However York showed great strength of character and cohesion to gradually turn the set in their favour. They managed to pull back the initial deficit to pretty much even the set. They took advantage of more frantic, long rallies and a few Leeds errors which became more prevalent throughout the set as well. After pegging Leeds back York took the lead with a 15-13 lead, they continued to hold and indeed extended this lead to 19-15 with a great winner from Camilla Moura, it certainly appeared at this moment that the set was heading York’s way.
Leeds gradually managed to edge their way back into the set, a number of unfortunate errors from York gave Leeds the leverage they needed for a comeback. As the set tightened the rallies seemed to become longer, more defensive and desperate as the pressure mounted on both sides. For the first time in the set Leeds took the leads at 22-21. Each point from then on was an epic, as the tension reached fever pitch levels. The final point for Leeds to take the set was the most epic of the match with both defences in fantastic form and a number of epic retrievals made. However Leeds eventually were able to pull the trigger to win the second set and score a crushing blow on the York team.
However York did by no means give up and they started the second set very strongly going into a 6-3 lead. Indeed at the start of the third set the Leeds defence appeared to be in some disarray which York took advantage of. York’s level of play had also notably increased and their serve notably in the hands of Magdalena Kovacova was now very potent with a number of aces being scored. Joanne Lee and Katharina Widerhofer both scored fantastic winners. Moreover York appeared to be getting more of the luck that had eluded them throughout the match with marginal net chords now more often than not working to their advantage. With York leading 19-15 as the set reached its conclusion it seemed they were on track to extend the match to a fourth set.
Leeds’ metronomic consistency began to show and they gradually managed to eke themselves back into the set yet again quickly pegging the score back to 19-19. After the timeout Leeds once again came out like a train, apparently shifting to another level which they could all upon under pressure scoring a number of excellent winners to leave a shell-shocked York flummoxed. Leeds in the end came out 25-20 winners of the third set and thus one the match advancing to the final. Despite the manner of the defeat York should be proud of their performance, they pushed a good Leeds team hard and showed great spirit to fight back in the second set and not to give up when they went two sets down.
Really well written!
Might have been worth commenting that this match was played at near zero temperatures in an unheated sports hall!
I can’t believe that University of York leaving to play volleyball matches in the unheated sport hall!