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Photos: Helen Leech
A very impressive performance from York was justly rewarded with a decisive victory against Hull in the morning fixture of Varsity.
Despite late injuries to key first team players, Chris Stent, the York team captain, was feeling “quietly confident” ahead of the fixture. And it was a confidence that resonated throughout the team, as they displayed great camaraderie in their overall play to emerge victors.
The Hull Sports Centre had recently refurbished its floor, and will need to do so again after the York volleyball team set it alight with an electric display.
The first set was a fairly scrappy affair. It seemed difficult for both teams to gauge each other’s style of play, yet York managed to grab an early lead and went on to run away with the game. The link up play between the team was a particular highlight, with Hull struggling to cope. York’s play was initially more fluid, and this increased throughout the match, as impressive displays from Christina Sechel and Sven Sabas were wholly captivating.
Hull were willing to put up a fight, and were often unlucky with the way the ball fell in their own court. So many of the early points could have easily gone their way, and if they had, it may have been a different game.
There was a slight resurgence from Hull in the second set, as they took a 5-2 lead, and seemed to be cutting out the mistakes that had cost them dearly in the first set. After a few long, hard earned points though York began to establish their dominance once more, and pulled the set back into their favour.
Stent’s serving was excellent with an arm like a traction engine. Midway through the set, Hull brought on an extra male player due to a nasty looking finger injury to Vaz, who had to sit out the remainder of the match. A similar incident soon happened to York however, so the teams were again balanced.
York went on to win the set, matching the earlier score, and it was definitely shaping up to be their day.
York maintained their focus and intensity, and dominated the third set winning 25-8. Their decisiveness at the net, and power along the baseline proved too much to handle, and helped the side to pick up three points for the University of York. Stent and his team were delighted with a well-deserved win, and left the court in great spirits.