UEL Women’s Volleyball continued their stellar form in the Premier South Division with a comfortable 3-0 victory over struggling University of Bristol.
Domination
Bristol got off to a good start in the opening exchanges of the first set, scoring the first few points of the game. However UEL responded and soon established a commanding lead of 14-7, going into the first time-out of the game. The hosts maintained their scoring pace and soon led the minnows 20-12 at the second time-out. UEL didn’t falter with five points in succession to secure the first set 25-12.
A dominant UEL didn’t let up in their performance levels, storming into a strong lead at the beginning of the second set, 12-4. After the break Bristol had to surrender to UEL’s quality, as the league leaders played with flair to finish the second set with a phenomenal yet not surprising score-line of 25-6.
Spirited
The final set was more challenging for the Blues as Bristol put up tougher opposition.
The teams’ traded point for point from the start, however UEL managed to build up a small lead into the first time-out, 14-10. The spectacle didn’t let up as Bristol closed to within two points of UEL almost immediately.
UEL’s experience showed going into the second time-out, as they surged into a 20-15 lead. The Blues returned from the time-out and ran out 25-17 winners.
Despite a spirited performance in the third set, Bristol had too much to do and ultimately were outclassed.
The rout had taken UEL just 45 minutes to complete.
UEL are still yet to drop a set in the league, having won all three of their games 3-0. If they continue in this form they could well win the league for the second successive year.
Focus
Delighted with his team’s performance UEL head coach Jefferson Williams couldn’t contain his happiness:
“You have got to be [happy] when you win 3-0, I didn’t know what threat Bristol were going to pose but looking at the results on the BUCS website I maybe expected a little bit more. They weren’t as strong as I’d thought it might have been. Overall it is very difficult, when you play a team that is so far below you, as far as level is concerned, and I think the second set where the girls kept their concentration and won 25-6, that’s probably what it should’ve been throughout. But credit to them, they managed to maintain some levels of focus.”
Of his side’s perfect start to the season, without dropping a set, Williams said:
“You always want to try and be dominant in any performance and it’s not going to be easy, I know next week will be a test, knowing that Essex are one of the stronger teams [in the division]. At some point in time it would be nice to win [the league] without dropping a set but we know that we might at some point lose a set. If and when that happens then it’ll be how we come back from that, what could be a minor disappointment I suppose”
‘Challenging’
Looking ahead to next week’s game against University of Essex Williams stated:
“We are expecting a tough game, we played Essex University at a tournament at the back end of September and, obviously, they are a much stronger team. We know they have three or four players that are on a similar level to our girls and obviously have weaknesses in other positions. We know that on the day [in September] we won that match 3-0, we also know that the abilities are there to have a dominant performance.
“It’ll be more challenging for us,” Williams continued. “I think we’ll be needing to get closer to our better level, our best level if we’re going to keep our three nothing winning.”
