Double defeats from Ragazzi!

08 October  V  Su Ragazzi ll

Men V Su Ragazzi ll

Both Dundee sides travelled west to Coatbridge for the first games in this season’s National Volleyball Leagues and both succumbed to pressure from the hosts Su Ragazzi ll.  The men were first on and it was new-look side from last season with 4 starting players missing.  Ragazzi started well and took a 7/2 lead with points handed to them with simple mistakes.  Mike Coward and Leo Maugeri helped close the gap with some clever hitting.  The home side were able to deal with the Dundee service and regain the momentum, and took the first set 25/21.  A more disciplined performance from the visitors in the second set kept the score closer but again seven errors gave the set to Ragazzi, 25/22.  Mike Coward was again the main hitter in the third scoring points and with support from Petr Kolomaznic, the Dundee side kept in touch, never falling behind by more than 1 point.  The game see-sawed but 5 errors in the last 10 points from Dundee caused problems and the home side sneaked the third set 25/22 to inflict a disappointing 3/0 defeat on the visitors.

 

Ladies V Su Ragazzi ll

The ladies were hoping to use the disappointment of losing a marathon 5 set match last week to spur them on against the Ragazzi ll side.  Injury and illness robbed them of 2 starting players but accurate serving and power hitting from Sarah Driscoll and Nic McKenzie helped the visitors to a sparkling 25/12 win in the first set.  A change of line-up from Ragazzi meant the second set was closer and their left side hitters kept them in the game.  A run of points from service gave the home side a slight lead and they held on to level the game winning 25/22.  Driscoll and McKenzie were again to the fore in the third set and with Lana Edgar and Lisa Pleisler working well in the block Dundee took the set 25/20.

A run of serves from Ragazzi took the score from 9/9 to 15/9 in their favour in the fourth set and there was no way back for Dundee as the game was level at 2/2 with a 25/18 win.

The visitors ran out of steam in the final set as Ragazzi’s left side proved the deciding factor as they hit with power and accuracy taking the set 15/9 to inflict another 3/2 defeat to the Dundee side.