Taking Over 3rd Place

On Saturday February 21st, we travelled to Aalborg to play the HIK club. It is coming down to the end of the season and positioning for playoffs if very important. Only the top four teams make the playoffs and 1 plays 4, 2 plays 3 in a best two out of three series. Before the match we were in 4th place with an 8-5 record and Aalborg (9-5) was in 3rd place. The winner of this match would therefore take over third place.
The last two times we travelled to Aalborg we had quite disappointing losses. The first trip was back in October playing our first of three league matches against them. The thing I remember from that match was wow can these guys serve. They basically served us off the court recording over 10 aces in a three set match, and even the balls they didn't ace we didn't pass very well. This would routinely set up large three man blocks to hit around. They beat us 3-0.
The second trip to Aalborg was in the Pokal Semi finals. After a delayed bus ride we arrived late to the gym and put in a very poor showing. It was after a couple weeks of good training and some big wins, but in this match, it seemed like we just didn't come to play. They won again 3-0 and got to play Marienlyst in the Cup final.
The only other time we've played them was in Middelfart where we squeaked out a 5 set victory. Needless to say we had something to prove going all the way to Aalborg this time. We've been playing some very good volleyball since our return from Sweden. We're able to elevate our game to a high level and execute when we really need it. Our defence has also been quite strong picking up many more balls.
I believe this matches tone was set very early by Georg E. Within the first 5 points he had atleast 5 digs playing in position 6. It was an indication of how hard Aalborg would have to work to earn each point against us. The first set they struggled a bit with their serving and we continuously put them in trouble. I started with my spin serve, but decided a more tactical float serve would serve more beneficial while they struggled with their passing. We won the first set 25-16. We continued to serve aggressively while holding our errors to a minimum. Our blocking also started to take shape, Ulrik and Soren would combine for some timely blocks to ensure that Aalborg could not get into rhythm. What they couldn't stuff block, they would continuously slow down for the defence behind them. We won the second set 25-18.
The third set Aalborg came out with a little more fire. They begin serving as aggressively as in games past. and started to put our side out in trouble. We traded points but found ourselves behind 13-11 and in need of a time out. We stopped and regrouped and stepped up our defence. We would win 14 points while only surrendering 4 more to Aalborg to win 25-17. One play in particular is memerable for me. All week I've been coaching a Kidsvolley Camp in Odense and we were teaching defence. One lesson was to keep your back straight but your chest up incase you have to dig a ball with your chest. During the third set, their best outside hitter got a one on one from the left side, so i stepped into the seem. Without really seeing the ball, it bounced off my chest and up into the air so that we could set the ball. Who knows, maybe I do what I'm talking about when I'm coaching!
The win was another boost and step in the right direction. We continue to improve and demonstrate that when we play well, we are a very difficult team to beat. Next, we play Holte on Friday. A team that is in 5th place and trying to get into the playoffs. They won this weekend over Marienlyst so they are not a team to be taken lightly. Also, they beat us in a 5 set match the first time we played them in Holte. I think we have a new thing or two to show them!