MAVL Finals - Gold - AIS v QAS Pirates
This match is being streamed live on the Oz Volleyball Chanel http://www.ustream.tv/channel/oz-volleyball
Set 1
AIS - Thwaite, Clewes, Young, Hill, Smith, Peacock, Tyrrell (L)
Pirates - Slack, Foster, White, Moeller, Irwin, Cook, Mayfield (L)
AIS jump out to a 5-1 lead as the Pirates seem slow off the mark to get themselves into the game. The team from the Institute are continuing their good form from their game yesterday and are playing a strong solid game. The Pirates aren't out it yet, just seem slow to start. They use a time out early on trailing 2-6.
This is a big hitters game so far this match. Foster and Slack for the Pirates and Thwaite and Smith for the AIS. The experience of Young and Thwaite for the AIS is certainly proving the winning factor for the AIS at the moment as the now have a 5 point lead 15-9, forcing the Pirates to take their second time out. Back on court and Thwaite aces Mayfield as he dives forward in desperation. The Pirates will need a cool head from setter Moeller and some leadership from Slack and Foster to get them through this.
Rowan Cook getting his first real court time this season for the Pirates comes up with 2 stuff blocks in a row, one on Clewes and one on Smith and the Pirates are getting close, 12-15. Time out AIS. Young tries to dump the second ball, but is called for over the net, and the Clewes nets big time on his quick hit and its there's 1 point the difference, 14-15. Slack faces against the huge AIS block and hits it off the outside fingers of the block and its up and in the roof. Scores are tied 15-15.
Still a close match with the AIS have the slight lead, 20-19. Jacques Borgeaud replaces Luke Hill for the AIS. Brendan Clewes is serving for the AIS, and he gets an ace for the first one, 22-19. Then forces the error from Irwin for another point 23-19. Error on the AIS side, can't get the ball over in the allotted 3 hits, but Smith gets the kill for the side out to bring up set point. And its a Block point to the AIS to take the first set 25-20.
Set 2
AIS - Thwaite, Clewes, Young, Hill, Smith, Peacock, Tyrrell (L)
Pirates - Slack, Foster, White, Moeller, Irwin, Cook, Mayfield (L)
What a spectacular rally to start the second set. Luke Smith runs off the court into the crowd to retrieve the ball, and Tyrrell has to run past the post to bring to his team's side, the Pirates attack and the AIS pick it up and Hill tips it for the winner. The crowd is cheering loud. And now it seems the the Pirates have lost focus, after losing such an awesome rally, they can't get things right and they find themselves down 5-0 before they can side out.
Thanks to a run of serves from Irwin, they have closed the gap to 4-5 and its Clewes the hits the kill for the AIS side out. It seems to be a one sided affair as the AIS surge forward once again and are out in front 9-4, forcing the Pirates to call for a time out. Luke Hill delivers a tough serve that the Pirates can't get a second touch to and AIS are 10-4 up.
Cook almost aces Clewes, but he dives forward and its a perfect pass, Thwaite buries the quick attack. Dave Kuchler is in for Trent Irwin for the Pirates. They have a hard task in front of them, as the AIS are just too strong. Pat Mead replaces Moeller for the Pirates, as Luke Smith hits another kill into the toes of the Pirates defence. The AIS are way out in front 16-7, reverse sub Irwin back in for the Pirates.
The Pirates are doing it tough as this game is all about the AIS. The have a commanding lead now, 10 point up, 19-9 as Pirates use their second time out. There is standing room only in the crowd as they cheer the big hits and spectacular sets from the AIS players, they are definately the crowd favourites. Luke Hill serves an ace for the AIS and they are out by 12 points now, 22-10.
Another big kill from Thwaite through the middle brings up set point for the AIS, 24-11, and the spike error from Josh Slack who sends the ball wide and long gives the set to the AIS 25-11, to take a 2-0 set lead in the match.
Set 3
AIS - Thwaite, Clewes, Young, Hill, Smith, Peacock, Tyrrell (L)
Pirates - Kuchler, Foster, White, Moeller, Irwin, Cook, Mayfield (L)
The change in the line up for the Pirates, bringing on Dave Kuchler seems to have given some heart to the Pirates. They currently lead 7-4 as the AIS call for a time out. The break in play has worked well for the AIS as they have refocused and have taken the lead back 8-7. Mayfield makes the pick up diving forward but Foster hits the third ball into the middle of the net. Kuch brings his team in to settle them down and refocus.
Thwaite's is having a field day with his quick hits as the Pirates have no answer for them. And Moeller finds White for a Pirates quick attack that the AIS can't touch. Smith's powerfull back row hit is off the top to White's head in the block as all eyes follow it up in the air and out over on the other court. Slack replaces Kuchler for the Pirates. Smith hits an error wide of the Pirates court and then Foster roofs him on the next point. The Pirates are up in front now as intensity from the AIS has lessen a little, 16-14. Forget that actually, Smith comes good with 2 block points in row against Slack to level the scores again 16-16. Pirates call for a time out. And 2 points later, both to the Pirates, the AIS call for a time out. The score is 18-16 with the Pirates serving.
Score are all tied up at 19-19 as both teams now trade side out points. The AIS are not quite as tidy as they have been in the first 2 sets and it is keeping the Pirates in this game. The scores get to 20-20, 21-21, and then the Pirates jump ahead 23-21. A service error from Irwin, and AIS get to 22 points. Slack from the outside finds fingers in the block and gets the Pirates to set point, 24-23. Smith hits high off the fingers of the Pirates block to save it and its 23-24. A huge rally for set point, great defence from Matt Young, Pirates get it back, Foster tips it over and Smith hits it waaayyyy toooo long of the court. Pirates take the third set 25-23 after looking dead in the water in the first 2 sets. AIS still lead 2-1.
Set 4
AIS - Thwaite, Clewes, Young, Hill, Smith, Peacock, Tyrrell (L)
Pirates - Slack, Foster, White, Moeller, Irwin, Cook, Mayfield (L)
AIS look tired, its getting hot here in the Show Court at MSAC and the Pirates have capitalised on it and are out to a 6-2 lead. AIS take an early time out. Leathart comes in for Peacock for the AIS. Better blocking from the Pirates as it takes 3 goes for Smith to get past them, in the end it aims higher to hit it off and out. Mayfield and Irwin collide trying to pass an easy Luke Smith serve, but his next one is out. Lincoln Williams comes into serve for Foster. The Pirates are still out in the lead, 8-5.
Mishit from Irwin sends the ball wide of the court and the AIS are closing the gap. Now only down by 1, 8-9, the Pirates take a time out. The AIS may be down but they aren't giving up without some fight as they dive off the court in desperation trying to keep the point alive. Foster back in for the Pirates. The quick moppers we have wiping up the sweat after the players hit the floor are being kept busy after every point, as it is hot in here and the players are sweating lots, and also diving lots, leaving it on the floor behind them. The Pirates still have the lead 16-14 as the AIS are having to play catch up.
Jacques Borgeaud replaces Luke Smith for the AIS. And now the AIS are coming alive. Some awesome pick ups and transitional kills from the Institute team have taken them into the lead now, 19-18. Time out Pirates. Neither team is giving up, this is a dog fight. The Pirates are using their middle attack more now in transition and White gets a kill for the Pirates. Foster blocks out Smith and the lead has changed again, Pirates up 21-19, AIS time out.
A quick attack kill from Thwaite and a mishit from Foster has evened out the match again. 21-21 with AIS serving. Slack hangs in the air for the block and sends Smith's tip back with force, Pirates side out, 22-21. Matt Young, jumped higher than Smith on that attack and gets the kill.....that was HUGE! Slack finds the seam in the AIS block to side out. Foster serves an error. Close game....23-23. Hill picks up his own blocked spike...wow! and the Smith finishes it off for the AIS, set point to them. 24-23. Another long rally....big hits and its Luke Smith that hits the ball through the QAS block sharp into the corner for the big winner. The AIS take the 4th set 25-23 and the GOLD Medal game 3 set to 1.
Congratulations to both teams for a fantastic game, and thanks for joining us this year for the Men's AVL series. Presentations are about to get under way, and all the photos will be up on the web during the week.
