MAVL R3 - G6 QAS Pirates v Volleyball WA

Set 1
WA - White, Williams, Douglas-Powell, Kuchler, Moeller, El-Mezin, Small (L)
Pirates - Prindiville, Sibbons, Simmonds, Lewington, Troy, Hauge, Farriss (L)

A not so nervous start from the home side WA Hornets as they are out to a 4-1 lead.  Some great setting from Jonathon Hague as he runs a complicated offence structure catches the Pirates defence off guard and usually just short of the balls landing place.  WA maintain their lead through their offence up until 10 points  when the Pirates come good with their blocking and they level the score at 10-10. 

Big hits are the trade mark in this set so far as the lead changes back and forwards between the teams.  It's almost a case of who can hit the ball harder than the other guy and finally with WA up in front 16-15, the Pirates take a time out.

Lewington is back to serve for WA and he rips 2 cracker jump serves off aceing the Pirates passers.  WA are up 20-18.  His next one though is into the net and Pirates get the easy side out.  Joust at the net and Williams loses it against Prindiville.  WA still lead by 2 points 21-19, Pirates call for their second time out.

At 20-22 down, Josh Slack replaces Dougals-Powell to serve.  Jordan Matters also comes in for the Pirates, replacing Moeller.  Kuchler hits a smart ball high over the WA block and deep into court for a winner. El-Mezin's serve just trickles over and WA are there and the take the point, set point to WA 24-21.  White hits the quick off the WA block and its out, set point saved.  Shane Troy burries his quick hit into the Pirates court and that gives the first set to WA, 25-22.

Set 2
WA - White, Williams, Douglas-Powell, Kuchler, Moeller, El-Mezin, Small (L)
Pirates - Prindiville, Sibbons, Simmonds, Lewington, Troy, Hauge, Farriss (L)

First point of the game and Sibbons lands akwardly and looks to have rolled his ankle.  Still on his feet, he subs himself out of the game and Josh Wilson replaces him.  Two hitting errors in a row from WA lets the QAS get to 5-3 up.  White and Williams are hitting well for the Pirates as WA's game is a bit up and down at the moment.  Better than last night, but still not their best.  The Pirates lead 10-9.  An ace from Lewington's jump serve levels the scores, but his next one he sends long.  Douglas-Powell hits the ball through Hague's block and off his head for a winner. And again, on the next point, he does it again.  The Pirates now lead by 3, up 13-10 as WA call for a time out.

A good crowd has formed to watch the WA Hornets here tonight, but they are noticably quiet as the Pirates are running away with the set.  Slack is in for the Pirates and Luff replaces Troy for WA.  With the Pirates up 17-11 WA call for their second time out.  Two quick points to WA and now its the Pirates turn to call for a time out.  They still lead, 17-13.

Big surge now from WA as they find some form and close the gap to catch up.  Pirates after looking so strong now look a but nervous and unsure of what's going on around them.  WA have leveled the scores and brought the crowd to life at 19-19.  Pirates call for their second time out.

WA are running away with this set now, they have lifted their game and can do no wrong, whilst it seems things for the Pirates are going from bad to worse.  WA have set point 24-21 but White with the quick saves it with a kill.  WA are diving all over the place to save this ball, they get it back to the Pirates and its White again with the kill to save set point.  The scores a level now 24-24.  Ace from Moeller and now Pirates have set point.  Saved by Prindiville but Douglas-Powell quickly wins it back for his team.  This game is so close, neither wanting to lose it.  Kuchler is struggling to jump looks like he has injured his calf.  Service error from Prindiville gives the Pirates set point again at 28-27.  Wilson gets a block on El-Mezin to give WA set point.  Moeller at the net with the block saves it.  Stewart in for Kuchler to serve, and its in the net.  Set point to WA.  Williams hits it high off the the block to save it.  Desperate QLD defence, but they lose control of it and its out.  A huge rally with awesome pick ups from Lewington in 6 and Prindiville fires one off cross court and Stewart can't get to it, WA take the second set in a marathon 32-30, and take a 2-nil lead.  Could this be the Pirates first defeat of the season?

Set 3
WA - White, Williams, Douglas-Powell, Matters, Moeller, El-Mezin, Small (L)
Pirates - Prindiville, Sibbons, Simmonds, Lewington, Troy, Hauge, Farriss (L)

Pirates take the early lead at 9-7. Sorry, make that 10-7 of a WA error. Meller gets the up but can't control it, WA 8-10. Errors from the Pirates has dwindled their lead to just one, 11-10. They call time out, We're sure that Coach, Grant Robertson, would have som very strong, but settling words. Lewington pancakes the ball, how he got underneath it is anyone's guess, but The Hornets get the point, 11-12. ACE for Williams if followed by a service error, but Pirates still hold lead, 14-12. Time out called by WA at 12-15.

BIG, BIG block by White, Pirates go to 16-14. Slack on for White, Slack serves out. William's power gets that ball through the block, Pirates stretch the lead to three, 18-15. Time out WA. Great dig by Simmonds is put away as WA come back to within one, 18-19. Time out called by the Queenslanders. Why did Wilson touch it on the way out????? Pirates now 20-18. Prindiville through the middle for the kill, 19-20 WA. WA take the lead 21-20. Luff called for a handling error, Slack takes a seat for White. The Ref overrules the lineperson, good call ref, 22-22. Communication just cost the Pirates that poiint, 23-22 WA. White eith the tight quick evens the set again, 23-all. Match point for WA at 24-23, Ruggiero comes in. White sends the ball wide, to give WA the set and the win in a much needed game. This will keep them in the hunt for a Finals berth.