Tendring Ladies 3-0 Wessex BU

26:24, 25:21, 25:15

Report by Skye Gullatt

Saturday 24 March, Tendring Women’s Volleyball take out Wessex in three sets. After a tough losing streak, Tendring Volleyball bounces back with a 3-0 sweep (26-24, 25-21, 25-15) in a match against Wessex.

Wessex opens the first set ready to compete with a 10-0 lead as the home team struggles to return the serve. The tables soon turn as the Tendring women refuse to buckle under the pressure. Stand out setter Molly Van Essen unafraid to of a challenge has a remarkable service run late in the first set to close a steady 9 point deficit to 2. Van Essen also responsible for the aid in quite the performance from outside hitter, Mechelle Daniel with 6 kills in the first set. In a point for point battle, the Tendring Women take the intense set 26-24 with tenacity.

In spite of the home team’s momentum, the second set begins much like the first with Tendring in a 7 point hole, Wessex leads 8-1. Opposite, Charlotte Bontems has a rough start to the match but shows up with a little bit of everything from a kill and a critical solo block but her service run puts an end to the opponents lead. Wessex still with some fight stays in it staying within 2 to 3 points from Tendring. Tendring libero, Lena Bitadou refuses to let anything hit the floor with insane, agile defensive plays unrivalled.

In set 3 Tendring uses capitalises on the energy on court and the large home crowd with an 8-1 lead. Wessex refuses to go out without a fight and make every second effort to fight back. Colleen King knows just how to respond with two kills and a block in her season return after an injury that kept her out for nearly three months, helping her team maintain a comfortable lead. Fellow American, Skye Gullatt completing the solid block Wessex’s offense cannot stand against. Emily Bell brings energy on the outside, making her presence apparent coming in from the bench with 2 kills down the line that Wessex cannot handle. The Women’s tendring end the match with a 10 point lead, 25-15 in the third set

Be sure to watch the Ladies back in action the weekend of April 7th/8th away in the Super8 Play Off Quarter Finals.