Hazlehead and Bon Accord in titanic Volleyball Struggle
Wednesday (11th Feb 2004) saw the two big ladies teams in the Aberdeen and south Grampian Volleyball District as Hazlehead hosted Bon Accord. As the current league holders and home team, Hazlehead started favourite but the visitors had trained hard and were ready for the battle that took place.
The home team got off to a good start and established a sizeable early lead before the visitors even got a chance to relax. this lead lasted throughout the set and despite a rally towards the end from Bon Accord, Hazlehead won the first set with relative ease.
The second set started differently, Bon Accord passers were moving more freely around the court which allowed the setters to distribute accurate balls which were put away by the spikers. Hazlehead never allowed the game to run away and determined defence ensured every single point had to be fought for. The crowd were treatd to a great standard of volleyball as the competive edge matched the effort on court. Bon Accord's power attacking held out and by winning the second set, forced the match into a third and deciding set.
Both teams were nervous prior to the start of the deciding set but it was the visitors who started the stronger, quickly establishing the same pattern of powerful atacking that had proved so vital in the previous set. At the half way stage Bon Accord were leading 13-12 and this gave them the belief and confidence that a win against the champions was possible and soon had match point at 24-18............ Then it all went wrong. Hazlehead had service and knowing any mistake by them would gift the game to their rivals, simply ensured they minimised their errors and served the ball in. The experience in their team really came to the fore as they made no mistakes and kept giving the ball to Bon Accord, enticing them to make errors - which they did. The attackers hit the ball out and lost confidence, the pass came up short which limited the options. All this time the BA players became more withdrawn with everybody very nervous, every point Hazlehead drew back gave them more confidence and the visitors more pressure. At 24-24 the atmosphere in the hall was unbearable as Hazlehead kept on the pressure and BA lost control of the game - and a 7 point advantage. Hazlehead ran out winners and deserved their victory teaching the BA girls a lesson in volleyball about NEVER giving up and to never asume a game is won before the final point hits the floor. BA coach Adrian Kearns admitted to being "totally gutted" about the defeat but admitted the Hazlehead team played very well and both teams undoubtedly provided one of the best games of ladies District League volleyball seen in Aberdeen for many years. The return leg promises to be as equally breathtaking.
