News
Double success for u16 Richmond girls in National Junior Cup
7th Dec 2009
On the 5th December 2009 Richmond Volleyball hosted the first round of Volleyball England’s National Junior Championship for U16 Girls. The group had 5 teams battling to qualify for the second round.
This year once again U16 development programme was sponsored by Marymount International School for Girls who provided training facilities for the U18 and U16 squads and hosted the first round of the U18 National Championship event. “This generous support played an important role in the success of our junior National teams,” said David Rijvers, Junior Development Officer of Richmond Volleyball. “It is very important that more and more girls are getting involved in the sport. Richmond Volleyball can offer them a clear path from the first introduction to the highest level competition and this year for the first time we able to enter two teams”.
Richmond A and Richmond MMI B played their first game against each other. Both teams showed confidence and control. Strong and consistent service and effective attacks from both sides made the match as close as possible - Richmond A just snatched the first set 25:24 and then the game 2:0. In the next two matches both Richmond teams had to measure their skills against visiting teams and they did it in style bagging 2 victories each.
In the last matches Richmond A took on Tendring and in the first set it seemed that result could go either way until strong services gave Richmond the necessary advantage and the set (25:23). It was difficult for Tendring after a long day to find grounds to resist an aggressive play from Richmond Girls and they bowed out in a short final set(15:25). On the other court Richmond MMI B wrapped up the first set against Camden in no time (25:10). Visitors could not cope with strong service and attacks coming one after another. However, lost of focus at the beginning of the second set cost Richmond dearly and girls found themselves 7 points behind from the start. Good technical skills and determination from the Richmond side made the score go up in the middle of the set and it seems that they regained control when unconventional play by the opposition brought Camden on top (25:19). This unexpected loss of a set at the end of the competition has not spoiled the final positions and both Richmond Volleyball teams got through to the second round of the National Championship.
“Some of the girls started volleyball only in September and progressed with confidence to an advanced system of play. Others where with the club for some time and their commitment and attitude displayed itself on court. The girls have showed not only individual skills that they should be proud of but a great club unity and spirit!”, Richmond coach Vera Kenyon commented, “It was a great team work and it is a solid basis for moving forward.”
Richmond Volleyball U16 Squads:
Richmond A: A.Fokina (Captain), J.Masselos, A.Da Silva, E.Rexhepi, F.Ibrahim-Hashi, Z.Ibrahim-Hashi
Richmond MMI B : V.Koydl (Captain), R.Tanaka, Z.Dildar, A.Perez-Rossell, Y.Ito, N.Nezirevic-Degray, L.Clauss (libero)
Final Group E Standing
(1st) Richmond A; (2nd) Richmond MMI B; (3rd) Tendring; (4th) Nottingham Rockets;
(5th) Camden School for Girls
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