/ Author: SPF

SPF Private Clients Men beat Sure Spikers in straight sets on Friday night. Covid cases throughout the team had meant that SPF had to delay their clash with, already crowned league winners, Spike Tyson the previous week.

SPF knew not to take their opponents lightly. Sure Spikers are a fast-improving young team and SPF were missing their top blocker Matt Ashworth. The tactic was to come roaring out of the blocks and serve tough. Outside hitter Jack Nurdin obliged with a strong float serve run at the start of the match. Sure have some strong servers of their own, particularly Isaac Langlois, who turned 18 that day, who served an ace in response. The consistency in the SPF passing was the difference maker and SPF cruised to a 25:10 victory in the first set.

Sure rallied at the start of the second set. The team features a number of newer players but they have an experienced setter in Tom Clemens who moved the ball smartly to his hitters. Their captain, Ben Duddy, passed consistently which helped his team keep their foot in the door. In their starting lineup SPF had two setters, Joe Baines and RyanMartel. Both connected with SPF captain Robbie Le Messurier in the middle who thumped away 3 spikes early in the set. Not to be outdone, Martel pushed a flat, fast setto the left side of the court where Nurdin hammered a vicious spike down the line to puta stop to a Sure comeback.

In the final set SPF started to push the limit of their capabilities, running first temp offence to the middle players, an advanced skill. The standout of this set, however, was young outside hitter Jack Hoskins, who passed and defended smartly. He has developed a number of attacking shots this season, tipping and rolling the ball and tooling the block. With all hitters firing and strong serving, SPF closed the final set 25:11and the match 3 sets to 0.

The league positions are already decided but SPF do have one match left to play against back to back champions, Spike Tyson. Although only pride is on the line, that is more than enough to motivate both teams for a final clash of the season.

 

SPF won 3 sets to 0, 25:10, 25:14, 25:11

SPF Most Valuable Player: 11 Robbie Le Messurier

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