Berkshire Volleyball Association Mixed Division

Oxford v Newbury v Basingstoke

Newbury v Basingstoke

Newbury played last year’s champions in the first game of this triangular fixture, and got off to a storming start reaching 16-6 ahead, thanks to incisive hitting from the Godden brothers Dave and Tim. However, Basingstoke recovered from this early humiliation and scrapped for every point eventually reaching 22-22 and closing the set out 23-25.

The second set was pretty much even with Sue Sayers variety in setting giving her hitters good opportunities to score. The Hampshire team were equal to it reaching 17-18 when Richard Cottle came on to serve and tied down the defence. Newbury took the next six points with a superb blocking demonstration from Jacek Fajkis and kills coming from Jordan Ayres. Newbury won the second set 25-19.

In the final set Tim Godden kept the former champions off balance with his jump float serving. Jordan Ayres appeared to be everywhere picking up anything Basingstoke could launch as an attack, and the teams changed ends at 8-3 with Newbury firmly in control. The pressure told on Basingstoke and Newbury went on to dominate the game winning 15-6.

Oxford beat Basingstoke 2-0 to set up a tense final game.


Newbury v Oxford

Volleyball is a very skilful and dynamic team sport. It can also require intense concentration and heroic spirit. This turned out to be one of Newbury’s toughest games for years. To start with it looked as though the West Berkshire side’s smooth transition, intelligent distribution and precise hitting would be enough to win the day. Jacek Fajkis took total charge of the net, Sue Sayers serving opening an early lead, with Amanda Accorsi and Jordan Ayres provided a solid attack. Newbury worked from the front to a 25-18 set win.

The home side reshuffled and galvanised to produce well balanced unit. Supported by their baying crowd they launched very effectively into the visitors. Newbury had lost none of their game but credit to Oxford they were able to constantly service their middle attack. Though Newbury bodies were flying in all directions to pick up loose ball they were always on the back foot and Oxford stormed to a 13-25 win in the second set.

Jacek Fajkis produced an epic series of blocks, to question the principal Oxford attack at the opening of the third set. The Godden brothers searched out the holes on their opponent’s court. A very well organised Oxford defence recycled everything to the delight of their partisan support.
There was nothing to choose between the sides as they changed ends with Newbury 8-7 up. Sensational play both sides of the net led to both sides exchanging points to 12-11. It was eyeballs out all the way, explosive hitting and diving pancakes on the floor. A badly shanked Newbury receive was net bound until reached by Richard Cottle’s finger tip and deflected past the Oxford defence. Speed of reaction or pure luck it did not matter for a moment it silenced the crowd and this may well have been what undermined a determined Oxford side. They did not score again and Newbury stole the last two points to win the game 15-11 in the third set.

Oxford v Newbury fixtures are always spicy but his was an epic. Jacek Fajkis earned the most valuable player award for his superb display of competitive blocking.

Posted by richard on Monday, 11.8.10 @ 22:03pm | #20

Berkshire Volleyball Association League Mixed Division


The start of a new season meant that Newbury had three new signings to integrate in this first fixture in this triangular fixture. Both opponents Maidenhead and Oxford have a long tradition for doing well in this division, which is for combined teams of men and women.

Newbury v Maidenhead

Newbury were able to match Maidenhead in the opening exchanges but the east Berkshire team had one very classy player to whom they constantly looked to kill points. He hit round the block effectively with such power that the backcourt could not handle the ball, despite the best efforts of Amanda Accorssi and Dave Godden.

Newbury were always a couple of points behind and forced to chase the game. It was very little details that let Newbury down and they lost the first set 20-25.

In the second set, Newbury seemed to gel a little better with the experience of Kay Wallace substituted into the starting six. It was level pegging until 7-7 when Maidenhead scored a couple of answered points and held the lead until the end of the set. Again it was their hard hitting Polish player, Michalik, who scored the majority of their points and they went on to win 22-25 despite a late rally for Newbury behind the serve of aptly named Rajiv Surve.

Maidenhead v Oxford

Maidenhead also enjoyed a straight sets win against a feisty Oxford side.

Newbury v Oxford

The hosts, Oxford, took out their vengeance on Newbury in the opening set despite Troy Tilley being introduced to the mix. Oxford are traditionally strong in service receive and recycling scrappy ball. They kept nibbling away and absorbing pressure. Things got much worse fro Newbury when Ragiv Surve went off with an ankle injury forcing Jacek Fajkis to come on out of position. Newbury went down 15-25 and it looked like it might be a pointless day in the league for the visitors.

By now however Newbury had established their strongest line up and good pressure from the opening service round took Newbury to 11-7. Then Richard Cottle came on to serve and ripped the hearts out of the Oxford defence, taking Newbury to 18-8, a position from which it would be difficult to lose. When Oxford did get the ball to the net, Surve and Faykis blocked manfully. When the hosts were forced to fire back free ball Kay Wallace and Dave Godden lapped it up. Newbury went on to power their way to a 25-13 set win, and a huge turn around.

That was just the beginning of Newbury ascendancy. Oxford upped their game in the final set but found their visitors in no mood to make life easy. A string of long points ensued, with the Newbury scrapping in the air and making miraculous pick ups in back court when all seemed lost. In the middle of it all Sue Sayers calmly distributed for her hitters to gradually wear down the home side defence.

It was Newbury 8-5 up at the change of ends, and full of fire. Kay Wallace continued to tease with her serve. Richard Cottle and Rajiv Surve turned in a master class in blocking, strangling any hope Oxford had of attacking and the pressure built with every point. Remarkably Oxford did not score again and Newbury romped home 15-5.

Posted by RIchard on Monday, 11.8.10 @ 21:59pm | #14

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Posted by Dave Godden on Friday, 10.22.10 @ 08:06am | #1