Opponents: Cambridge
Competition: National KO Cup - Round 3
Date: Saturday 22nd January 2005
Venue: Bacon's College, Rotherhithe
Result: 3-2 Loss (22-25, 25-18, 25-15, 21-25, 13-15)
Headline: Cambridge teach Docklands a lesson
Author: Andy Hopper

London Docklands Volleyball's hopes of regaining the KO Cup trophy they won in 2003 have been shattered after losing to Cambridge in the third round. The draw had pitted Docklands, currently in second place in the National League Division 1, against fourth placed Cambridge. However, Docklands started the match as slight favourites after winning the first league encounter between the two sides earlier in the season. Compared to that occasion Docklands were without Libero Nicolas Ruh so the experienced Ned Groy stepped into the different coloured shirt. Meanwhile the only change in Cambridge's line-up was the introduction of setter Wijnand Mooij who provided the visitors with crucial extra height at the net.

Docklands started slowly but a series of errors by Cambridge saw the home side go 6-4 up. There then followed a series of hotly contested rallies with both sides entertaining the crowd with some powerful volleyball. Neither side was able to open up a meaningful advantage until two consecutive kills from Cambridge's Andy Lynn, forced Docklands coach Ian Legrand into calling his second time out, his team 22-19 down. Although Docklands re-established their sideout game, the gap was too great at this stage in the set and Cambridge took it 25-22.

Earlier in the season Cambridge had also won the first set against Docklands. Therefore, there was no panic in the Docklands camp and instead the East London side came out at the start of the second set with more confidence. Indeed, a block by Andy Vincett and an ace from Vaclav Petricek propelled Docklands into a 4-1 lead. Although Docklands were unable to build on their lead they maintained a three point gap with Martin Blake and Boris Halatchev standing out for the home side. Legrand had also introduced power hitter Jesse Kaptein and he was proving to be unstoppable with five kills from five attempts in the second set. Docklands coasted to the second set 25-18.

Cambridge started the third set the brighter side and an ace from Mooij saw them go 4-1 up. Again the side leading was unable to grow their lead and Docklands clawed their way back to parity by 8-8. A block by Blake on Cambridge captain Lucio Colombi Ciacchi took Docklands 12-11 up and it was now Blake's turn to serve. He produced a remarkable run of seven jump float serves that seemed to perplex Cambridge's passing unit. With the help of kills from Kaptein and Halatchev and four Cambridge errors Docklands were 19-11 up when Blake's run came to an end with a service error. Aaron Stolberg regained the serve with a powerful cross court smash and Vincett then tried to emulate his team mate with a service run of his own. He managed a run of four serves, including one ace that drove Docklands to a comfortable 25-15 third set win.

Docklands' confidence was now sky high while Cambridge seemed dejected. Docklands took advantage and charged into an 11-5 lead. Docklands then seemed to make the fatal mistake of thinking that the game was now won. Cambridge thought otherwise and a run of seven serves from Justin Burtenshaw helped Cambridge take a 13-11 lead. Docklands recovered and a kill by Kaptein tied the scores at 16-16. However, Cambridge were now the side playing with more confidence and their backcourt defence was continually frustrating the Docklands attack while the home side were unable to match the visitors in this area. The momentum was with Cambridge and they took the match into a deciding fifth set.

Both sides were keen to get off to a good start and a clever hit from Mohammed Sliti gave the first point to Docklands. The tension was evident but both teams were playing error free volleyball as the first twelve points were decided by clean winners or blocks. Neither side was able to gain a lead until a block by Stolberg on Lynn and a kill from Petricek took Docklands 11-10 up. But Cambridge came back and a second touch smash by Mooij saw his side go 13-12 ahead. Then a loose pass by Docklands gifted Cambridge the ball and Lynn hit the ball off a despairing Docklands block. Petricek was able to save the first match point but Cambridge took the second when captain Ciacchi followed Lynn's example to wipe off Docklands' block.

Cambridge now face City of Bristol 1 in the quarter finals while Docklands must pick themselves back up and ensure this loss doesn't effect their league campaign. They will hope to get their season back on track when they host Leeds on Saturday 29th January at Bacon's College.

Docklands: Kaptein 14 kills (25 attempts), Vincett 1 (4), Halatchev 5 (10), Stolberg 13 (34), Blake 6 (11), Sliti 2 (9), Petricek 12 (35), Groy (Libero).

Cambridge: Mooij 5 (18), Braun 7 (16), Lynn 15 (34), Clarke 0 (0), Jacquet 0 (0), Colombi Ciacchi 12 (31), Verrinder 0(0), Escott 4 (11), Burtenshaw 11 (34), Clark (Libero).

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