This Is Guernsey

AN UPSET was nearly on the cards when Savills2 took on NashCopy Whites in the OSA Recruitment Women’s League. The first set was fairly even until Dani Stevens took to the service line for Savills, her long serve causing problems for NashCopy and opening a 20-11 lead, which they retained to win the set.

The second saw much of the same from both sides, with Savills picking up everything that NashCopy threw at them. A run of serves from NashCopy’s Karen Archenoul was enough to secure the second set and level the game.

For the remainder of the match most of NashCopy’s points came from powerful spikes from Lize-Mari Theron and player of the match Jenny Lindfield for Savills.

NashCopy’s newcomer Kat Mather played well in her first full match, gaining some valuable court time and doing everything that was asked of her.

With the game even at 2-2, the deciding set was also tight. Archenoul once again dominated the service line, giving her team a 9-0 lead. But Savills never gave up, pulling back eight points before NashCopy finished the set.

Alternative Solutions Two were focused in their first set against NRGI, keeping the ball at their pace with controlled three-touch play. They cruised to win 25-7 with captain Laurie Slimm covering well in the front court and continually spurring them on.

However the second set was much closer.

ASL2 made a change with Virginia Alcoba coming on for her first full set since breaking her leg and, although the opposition were allowed to take an early lead, Jo Smeed forced NRGi into making errors with her steady serving and edged the lead to 12-9. Despite many unforced errors, ASL2 stayed ahead for the rest of the set, eventually taking it 25-20.

Player of the match Debbie Taylor shone for ASL2 in the third set. Despite NRGi calling a time out, Taylor didn’t waiver and served 20 points in a row. Her solid back court play allowed setter Alcoba to settle in and give Sonia Hewitt plenty of work at the net. ASL cruised in this set, finishing 25-5.

When NashCopy Red took on ASL1, the first set was a close affair, with the score reaching 7-7 then 12-12. However, Martine Bougourd then served her team into a 20-13 lead, a gap that ASL1 were unable to close.

In the second set, each of the Reds put in a good serving display, with Jo Turville taking the score to 8-2. Again ASL found this to be too many points to regain and never looked to challenge for the set.

However, ASL found some vigour in the third, aided by a shaky performance from the Reds. Players of the match Dom Lihou and Helen Crawley put increased effort for ASL1 and helped the team to a 25-20 set win.

That did not please Reds’ guest coach Archenoul and a stern talking to proved the winning formula as NashCopy came out fighting in set four. Ten points from Kat Burgess at the service line proved to be the push they needed as they closed the set at 25-11, to take the match.

n IN THE Mixed Division, Cannon took an early lead against DF Cave, thanks to a run of serves from Susie Storey. The teams traded points until Gemma Nicolle won six on her serve to bring the youngsters back into the game. Will Bodkin then took over serving duties with the score at 18-17 and closed the set for the junior side.

The second was very close, with Dave Bartram proving too big an obstacle at the net for DF Cave to avoid. His blocking was decisive in helping his team to take the set.

In the decider, Cannon quickly racked up a seven-point lead thanks to Matt Hann and looked to be in winning form. However, some brave battling from James Bodkin, who won nine points on his serve, put DF Cave in the lead. From there, some excellent teamwork helped them to close the set at 15-12 and with it the match.

When HTC took on Doyle Motors, experience won through over youth. HTC fielded four players under 18 and the Doyle’s team were solid on court to react to everything that came their way in a good-humoured match and secure a well-deserved win.

It was business as usual for NashCopy as they swept aside Investec Slammers in two straight sets. Despite some brave defensive work by each member of the Investec team, powerful hitting from all three of the NashCopy men gave them trouble throughout.

In other matches, HSS beat GVA Juniors in straight sets, while Heritage took three sets to overcome RBSI. Specsavers put in a sterling performance to win their first match of the season. At 7-0 down in the decider it looked all over, but strong serving and some unbeatable team spirit pushed them to take the set 15-8 against Rothschild.