Tendring Ladies 3 - 0 London Orcas
26-24,25-19,25-13
Report by Kat Raicevic
This game was not just another usual game in the NVL super League top 5 competition. It was the last game for Tendring Ladies. It was a championship game. To be more precise, a win in this game would crown Tendring a Champions of Super League. The opponent was London Orcas - one of the biggest Tendring rivals. Games against them are never easy, and Tendring Ladies were ready for a long match.
As always, the game plan of Tendring was to focus on their side. And Tendering Ladies did stick to their plan! They opened the set with an early lead. But just before the end Tendring gave couple opportunities to Orcas and they used them. The finish of the last set brought some excitement and hope for London Orcas but Tendring stayed calm and finished the set 26-24! Cannot forget to say that the atmosphere in the Essex Sports Hall was just heating. This was probably the most watched game, and Tendring had a crowd in their favour.
The end of the first set built some momentum for Orcas and they started the second set with a big lead with couple serve aces and Tendring unforced errors. Luckily blocking tactics work just so well for the Tendring Ladies, as Milly Smith and Amber Erhahon showed off some amazing blocking and they were able to stop Orcas! But what really turned this set around was Tendring’s setter Piyusha Boteju who really stepped up and blocked and hit couple balls in a row. This is not something that you see often from the setter. Tendering came back and finished second set 25-19.
After winning the second set from coming from behind, everyone could guess what would happen in the third set. Tendring was on fire! The picture of the Championship Title was just a couple points away and Tendring Ladies could feel this dream coming true. Everything work just so well which allowed all players to come into the game and be part of something special that day.
25-13 was the final score of the third set. And there it is. Tendring is super league champions 2018-1019.
Congratulations to the whole squad and staff, achieving a first in the clubs, counties and region history!