MAVL R3 - G3 QAS Pirates v Uni Blues
Set 1
Pirates - White, Willimas, Douglas-Powell, Kuchler, Moeller, El-Mezin, Stewart (L)
Blues - Whitburn, Stevens, Morley, Weimann, Campbell, Bhachi, Helfrich (L)
Pirates have bought quite a young side over to Perth this weekend, adding only a few senior players to the team. They are with out Grant Sorensen again this round as he is at home with his new baby son William Patrick, Congratulations to Mum and Dad. The Blues have lost Michael Werner as well after a calf tear that happened in Canberra but they have included Matthew Campbell this round. Update on Kosma Smiechowski from the Pirates who was injured in Round 2, he has torn his ACL and meniscus and will be out for quite a while. Good Luck with the recovery Kosma.
Joining the action in this first set, the Blues hold a small lead up 18-16 as both teams are making their middles work hard setting them a majority of the attack sets. Youngster Lincoln Williams from the Pirates is playing well in the opposite role but the stand out so far is Jonathon Morley from the Blues who is just dominating at the net in both attack and defence. The Blues have extended their lead now out to 20-17 as the Pirates take a time out.
Pirates strugging with their serve recieve but Williams manages to get the side out point from it. Bhachi drills the ball from position 2 into open court to bring up set point for the Blues. It's saved again by Williams who then goes back to serve, but he sends it out the back of the court and Uni Blues take the first set 25-21.
Set 2
Pirates - White, Willimas, Douglas-Powell, Kuchler, Moeller, El-Mezin, Stewart (L)
Blues - Whitburn, Stevens, Morley, Weimann, Campbell, Bhachi, Helfrich (L)
A run of 5 serves by Edison Bhachi has given the Blues the lead now in the second set up 6-5. Slack subs in for Douglas-Powell for the Pirates. They side out quickly and a El-Mezin block gives them back the lead 7-6. Douglad-Powell back into the game. It seems Slack is limiting his front court time to minimise aggravating a pulled calf muscle, another injury sustained in round 2. Stevens is serving now for the Blues and he extends the lead out to 10-7. Stevens also makes a great pick up in 6 but during the long rally, the Blues lose control of it and send it over and out. Pirates are catching up again closing the gap 9-10. Campbell hits it deep just in front of Kuchler who dives to pick it up and sends it out on an over pass. Douglas-Powell hits the kill through the seam of the block and with a Bhachi hit going way too wide, the scores are level again 11-11. Fast serve from Moeller and Helfrich can't control it in the pass, Pirates 12-11, Blues call for a time out.
Blues defence at the moment is a class above everyone elses. Right place at the right time and they are getting so many ups that are transitioning into kills. And that is if the ball can get past their block in the first place. They have taken back the lead now 16-14 as Pirates call for a time out. But after the time out, the Pirates have refocused and Dave Kuchler is hitting smarter through the Blues blockers or off and out. And again the lead exchanges hands, Pirates now lead 18-17.
Andrew Small replaces Osama El-Mezin in the back court for the Pirates. They have a slight advantage at the moment, up 21-19. But the Blues defence has done it again, as Stevens kills the transition set to level the scores 21-21. Pirates side out with Moeller to serve and he puts it into the net. 22-22. Douglas-Powell hits it over Morley's long arms in the block for a winner. Rare error from Bhachi on the outside spike brings up set point for the Pirates. 24-22 Bhachi makes sure of it on the next swing and hits the kill to save the set point. Kuchler sees the gap between the block and the antenna and sends it down the line but its out scores are level 24-24. Williams hits a cross court kill from 2 to get back set poing. El-Mezin comes back into the game. Morley with the quick attack behind saves set point. He is in the right defence position but it hits off his shoulder and can't control it. This is such a close game in the end now. Pirates have the break point still but the Blues keep fighting back. 27-27 now, with Stevens to serve for the Blues. Williams finds high hands to hit off, Pirates set point again 28-27. Side out after side out, both teams will not give up on this set. At 30-29, Brendan White reads the play on the quick attack and blocks Morley's quick and the Pirates take the second set 31-29. Sets are level 1 apiece.
Set 3
Pirates - White, Willimas, Douglas-Powell, Kuchler, Moeller, El-Mezin, Stewart (L)
Blues - Whitburn, Stevens, Morley, Weimann, Campbell, Bhachi, Helfrich (L)
This set has started as the last one finished, even at 4-4. Kuckler reads the tip well, killing it, Pirates 6-5. Footwork called on Uni Blues, Bhachi's been called over to the ref stand for a chat, Pirates 7-5, Williams with serve, Valena fires the ball across court for the winner, 6-7 Uni Blues. Bhachi gets the up, but his team stands by and watching it hit the floor, communication an issue in that point, Pirates 8-7. Stevens runs the pipe, it gets a large chunk of the cord, Pirates claim not touched from the blockers, but the ref disagrees, Blues take the point and even the score at 8-8. Moeller with the dump, catches Uni Blues having a nanna nap, 10-10. Stevens find the seam on El-Mezin, but Pirates still hold the leaad...just, 12-11.
Saario subs in. Williams gets the roof on Stevens, Small replaces El-Mezin. Pirates call time out, they have let a few errors creep into their game and have allowed Uni Blues to get back to within one, 16-17. Take nothing away from The Blues, Bhachi has been leading the way from the front of the court.
Welcome back after a technical hiccup...All the good commentary that was written about the remainder of the third set was lost, but we can tell you that Pirates closed it out 25-19. Apologies to all those ot in cyberspace, the problems now fixed, so stayed tuned.
Set 4
Pirates - White, Willimas, Douglas-Powell, Kuchler, Moeller, El-Mezin, Stewart (L)
Blues - Whitburn, Stevens, Morley, Weimann, Campbell, Bhachi, Helfrich (L)
Well done to Damien Whitburn, Uni Blues Captain, letting the ref know that the ball was touched off the blocker, allowing the ref to reverse the initial decision, to award the point in Pirates favour, great sportsmanship! Kuchler and Whitburn shake hands under the net. Its great to see. Pirates hold a narrow lead, 8-6. Uni Blues have been battling the last couple of points, a few unlucky calls going against them, but they have regrouped to close the six-point lead back to three, 13-10. Kuchler finds the open cross court corner to take the Pirates to a 17-13 lead. Small takes a seat on the bench. Moeller with the dump, Morley sides out quick with a huge kill that El-Mezin can't keep alive, Pirates still with the lead 19-15.
Matters takes the court. Morley, OMG, a huge kill block on Kuchler, the ball landing almost on th eback line! 17-21 Uni Blues, still not out of the hunt. Stevens wins the joust against Moeller, 18-21 Uni Blues. Sevice error Bhachi. Time out Uni Blues at 18-23. Weimann, through the middle, gets first pionts af the time out, 19-13. Match point to Pirates through a Steven's service error, 20-24. Bhachi saves one with a kill, 21-24. Pirates take the match 3:1, 25-21 in the fourth, the ball out of the blockers hands.
Stay tuned for the AIS taking on Canberra Heat. The Heat taking the court for the first time this round.
