Crocs challenge for Christmas cheer

ULU lost to Inter Crocs 14:21 19:21 15:21 Women’s Premier Division (London Volleyball League)

ULU go down in three

The students had the misfortune to come up against one of six teams challenging for the title this season. Its determination showed. Crocs have lost to Lionhearts East. East lost to Rebels, Rebels lost to IMKA and Giants. QKX is challenging too. Each has a maximum of two losses so far. Not one is undefeated. The dramatic season continues.

The visitors made a good start immediately grabbing a two point lead but made no further progress in the first set until it was 10:12. Side out made it 10:13 and a substitution introduced Viola Salvestrini as server and her accurate deliveries helped her side advance to 10:16. ULU then enjoyed a run of three winners but had left themselves too much to do.

That late success seemed to bring a good measure of confidence and ULU competed very well in the second set and there was very little between the sides. They led briefly, then dropped a few points behind for a while before regaining the lead late in the set and increasing it to 19:16. Things were looking good for them but Crocs earned themselves side out and it was Anita Bjelica’s turn to put in a spell of good serving to give her side a two set margin/

ULU made a promising start to the third with an early lead albeit of a single point but Crocks soon went ahead to lead 7:10 and were the only side to win a point on service after the time-out that ULU took at that stage and ran out comfortable winners.

After Christmas the division restarts on 12th January with QKX at home Onyx and ULU entertaining Giants and, with Giants playing again on 19th when they visit IMKA, the drama looks set to continue.

Players

ULU
Starting Six: Francesca Billato, Sonia Constantinou, Marguerita Greppi, Maria Mosckou, Veronica Rossi (captain), Ludovica Zurzolo.
Libero: Melissa Lai, Gabriela Garcia de Oliveira
Other players: Michaela Lagoudaki, Aikaterini-Styli Stavropoulou.
Coach: A Kales.

Inter Crocs
Starting Six: Anita Bjelica, Lisa Dykstra, Raquel Rabadan, Daniela Sanchez, Luca Toth (captain), Cristina Vazquez-Reynel.
Libero: Venous Khodabandehlou,
Other players: Stefania Bellatti, Erika Liaci, Giada Lovato, Viola Salvestrini, Alicia Tegazi .
Coach: Danny Primus

Referee: M Trelfa.

St Augustine’s School, Kilburn, 15th December.