BUSA
tournament 2 2007-8
Reading University Volleyball Mens 1 recovered strongly from a poor start to
take 3 victories from 3 at the BUSA tournament held at the University of Reading
on Sunday 2 December.
Reading hosted another high standard tournament with 12 top southern
universities travelling to the Thames Valley for the second of 3 qualifying
tournaments in the National Universities Championship (BUSA).
Team captain Giannis Manolakis welcomed back other National League stars for
Reading in a strengthened squad that faced up to the University of London (ULU)
in Match 1.
ULU are struggling to compete this year in an improved southern section since
narrowly losing out on the national title last March. Matches between these two
teams are always tense affairs; this one was no different with Reading starting
strongly winning the first set, ULU recovered and took the second forcing the
game into a tiebreak third set. Reading maintained a solid passing platform
which opened the way for Ryan Jones to keep the score board ticking over; the
home side eventually took the tie 2-1.
Reading
take a time out to modify tactics against Essex
Match 2 saw Reading edge past the current league leaders Essex. The Essex coach
experimented with his formation in an attempt to nullify the Reading Power
Hitter Dimitris Balagiannis with disasterous results, Reading crushed Essex in
the first set. Essex recovered in the second but choked with a 5 point lead late
in the set, awarding another scalp to the Jubilant home side.
Sussex faced up to Reading on the back of National Plate Final in March and
promotion to the Premier League in October. New editions in the Reading ranks
were Luke Dansie & Michael Zodiates, who took on the opportunity to dominate
their opponents to a straight forward 2-0 win.
Reading now face the long trip to Sheffield for a tough national league match
which can maintain Reading’s dominant position at the top of National League 2.
Reading
Warm before a tough battle with ULU
National Universities Competition will resume on 4 February at ULU in the
final qualification tournament of the regular season.
FULL RESULTS
MEN:
Essex defeated Sussex 2-0 25-9; 25-8
Imperial defeated UCL 2-0 25-16; 25-21
Imperial defeated Sussex 2-0 25-19; 25-20
Essex defeated UCL 2-0 25-13; 25-23
Reading defeated ULU 2-1 25-20; 23-25; 15-11
Reading defeated Essex 2-0 25-20; 27-25
Imperial defeated ULU 2-0 25-15; 25-20
Reading defeated Sussex 2-0 25-13; 25-12
WOMEN:
Kent defeated UCL 2-1 9-25; 25-16; 17-15
King's defeated Holloway 2-0 25-23; 25-14
UCL defeated Sussex 2-1 25-19; 24-26; 15-4
UCL defeated King's 2-1 26-24; 20-25; 15-10
Sussex defeated Holloway 2-0 25-15; 25-18
Sussex defeated Kent 2-1 20-25; 26-24; 15-11
ULU defeated King's 2-0 25-6; 25-10
ULU defeated Holloway 2-0 25-7; 25-8
RCM
3.12.07
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