Volleyball

Cleobury 1 set Birmingham Uni 3

25-14, 11-25, 17-25, 18-25

Cleobury's away West Midlands Division One fixture at Birmingham University again proved to be a tough and interesting encounter.

After a few grumbles in the warm-up about the height of the net and the playing conditions, Cleobury soon settled down and got on with the job in hand. The first set started well as Paul Guest served Cleobury into a 3-0 lead. This enabled Cleobury to set into an early rhythm, and dictate the pace. Some steady passing from Nick Di Marco and Adam Bills allowed setter Carl Brookes to use hitters Simon Eades and Simon Fish to full use.

Cleobury were sitting comfortably, and after he had served in another five points, Paul Guest came off to give Jos Carter, his West Mids debut. Cleobury stayed in control and took the set comfortably 25-14.

Downfall

Cleobury know that Birmingham are a side capable of turning a match around, and so it proved as they lost the second set 11-25. It started well for Cleobury as they moved 2-0 up, but their failure to pass the ball on their opponents serve proved to be their downfall. All though Carl Brookes used some precision serving to give Cleobury a glimmer of hope, but at 11-5 down they could not find the form of the first set and Birmingham promptly levelled at one set all.

Set three was a close affair to begin with as both side struggled with their first pass. At 11-all their was nothing in it until Birmingham once again found weaknesses in the Cleobury pass and stretched to a 19-11 lead. Despite a few choice words from player/coach Carl Brookes, Cleobury failed to rally and lost 25-17.

Cleobury needed to shake off the frustrations of the last two sets and work on regaining their composure, as they needed to take this to a fifth and deciding set. Although the scores were even at 6-all, Cleobury weren't convincing enough with their first pass. This once again proved to be their downfall and they lost the set 25-18.