Opponents: Aquila Lynx
Competition: National League Division 1
Date: Saturday 6th December 2003
Venue: Bacon's College, Rotherhithe
Result: 3-0 Win (25-18 26-24, 25-19)
Headline: Docklands go top
Author: Andy Hopper

For the first time this season London Docklands Volleyball moved to the top of the Prosport National League Division 1 with a comprehensive 3-0 win over London rivals Aquila Lynx. Aquila started the game confidently on the back of two wins including a tough five sets away victory against Sheffield. However, following their own five set win against the league champions on the previous weekend, Docklands were in no mood to let their high standards drop and were fully focused for a potentially tricky tie.

Docklands faced a potentially match threatening incident even before the first serve with power hitter Jesse Kaptein twisting his ankle in the warm-up. With five of his squad already unavailable, coach Ian Legrand, had to do some serious rejigging of his line-up. Recent signing Nicolas Ruh came into the starting six while Ned Groy moved into Kaptein's power slot.

Given these changes it seemed to take Docklands a few points to get into the game and Aquila took full advantage, taking a 9-7 lead. But aided by some solid passing from Albrecht Glitz and Ruh, Docklands clawed their way back into the set to move ahead 15-12. Docklands were now playing with more assurance and middle hitters Martin Blake and Boris Halatchev put in a series of demoralising blocks that saw their team stretch the lead, eventually taking the set 25-18.

However, Aquila have a number of ex-internationals in their side and they used all their experience to make it tough for Docklands. Aquila's setter David Rijvers started the second set by putting service pressure on Glitz and the visiting team found themselves 3-0 up. But a crucial side out from Blake and strong serving from Andy Vincett and Glitz saw the scores level at 6-6. Docklands then opened up a two-point lead that they held until a couple of unforced errors allowed Aquila to level the scores at 17-17. The scores then remained within one point of each other with both teams playing some exquisite volleyball. It was Docklands who gained the first set point at 24-23 but Aquila managed to scramble the ball back to survive. However, after siding out Docklands captain Glitz went back to serve and as is often the case he produced an unreturnable serve that won Docklands the set 26-24.

The third set was an extremely tight contest with neither team able to open up any sort of a lead as the score reached 16-16. But after an Aquila service error and an exciting long rally that Groy for Docklands finished off, Aquila's coach Danny Wol took a time out to let his players recover, down 18-16. However, Docklands came back on court with greater focus than their guests and clinically finished off the set 25-19.

After the match, Docklands' man of the match Blake was "speechless" but his coach summed it up with "that was a very good win in the circumstances but we must now focus our minds on our next game against Polonia." Docklands' Bulgarian Halatchev, an ex-Polonia player, agreed saying, "I want that match." Indeed, if Docklands win they will remain on top of league into the New Year.

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