VOLLEYBALL: The Victor Harbor Volleyball Association Autumn season grand final was contested last Wednesday by Sets on the Side and Fun Police in a high quality, closely fought match which produced some fine play on both sides.
Grand Final result: Sets on the Side d Fun Police 3-0, 25-22, 25-22, 25-19
Best on Court: Female: Cathy Griffen Male: Justin Shute.
Sets players have had a mortgage on this competition for the past four years, taking five flags out of the seven grand finals in which they have participated, missing out on a finals berth only once in that time.
On the other side of the net, Fun Police players were in new territory, experiencing the pressures of a grand final for the very first time but determined to produce their best volleyball.
The first set produced some great rallies with both teams serving confidently and working the ball accurately to their setters for an attack.
It was clear from the outset that there was little between the two sides as players probed the opposition court with carefully weighted spikes and tips over the block looking for weaknesses in the defence.
For the Police, Harriet Palmer played a pivotal role, controlling centre court and delivering quality sets to her spikers, Duncan Barnett, Lena Reichman and Phil Osborn, while captain Craig Littlely and Sal Haselgrove provided great support, keeping the ball alive with some great recoveries around court.
Towards the end of the first set, the experience of the Sets 'gang of four', captain Justin Shute, Cathy Griffen, Tony Hewett and Matt Wright began to tell, and with sterling performances from Amelia Beckett and Gary Wright in their first season the Sets combination held off the challenge and garnered a first set by a whisker 25-22.
The second set began in similar vein, with Fun Police sensing that they had to find something extra special to get back into the match.
With a huge effort they hauled themselves into the lead sending Sets players in all directions as they dived around the court to keep the ball alive.
In his first final, Gary Wright managed some amazing recoveries close to the floor while son Matt honoured his efforts with some penetrating spikes at the net.
Forced to play their very best, Sets drew level at 20-all on a 21 hit rally which delighted the capacity crowd.
Normally at this high level a rally lasts three or four hits with the ball crossing the net a couple of times.
For the ball to cross the net seven times is exceptional even with two teams of this quality.
The loss of this huge rally seemed to sap the momentum from the Police and Sets continued to surge taking the second set 25-22 and giving the Police a steep hill to climb to get back into the match.
Rampant now, Sets were in no mood to extend the match beyond three sets and established a comfortable lead in the third set with all players serving confidently and maintaining their game plan.
As the set progressed, Fun Police players began to feel the pressure and for the first time in the match, started to make unforced errors from the service line and at the net.
At 18-14 down Fun Police picked up a couple of easy points prompting Police captain Craig Littlely to exhort players in his inimitable fashion with "Come on, we've got them on the ropes" breaking the tension and helping them to make a last ditch effort as they climbed back into the game with a trio of points from great attacking moves.
Clearly, Sets players do not believe in fairy tale endings as they steadied the ship and served out confidently to take the title with a third set win 25-19.
Thank you to referees Simone and Jocelyn Neumueller for their excellent work refereeing the matches throughout the season and to organisers Pam and Wayne Good for another enjoyable season.
The next season will begin on Wednesday, July 21 at 7pm in the Victor Harbor Community Recreation centre.
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