Our new year started with a really tight away match against Ashcombe Dorking 1.
We kicked the first set off with a good lead, thanks to a strong and consistent serve and some of the best team work we’ve seen so far from our NVL squad. However, Ashcombe pushed back and showed why they’re sitting on top of the table. End result was 25-23 to the locals.
We started the second set very confident and got the lead several times, but we lost too many points due to serving out. Despite some great covering and hitting, Ashcombe took the set again 25-23.
Our NVL ladies got in the third set with the mentality of having two more ahead: we had to fight harder and be smart, we deserved it. More players had some court time and they adapted incredibly well. Unfortunately, we kept making service mistakes and weren’t able to finish as many points as we wanted. Consequently, Ashcombe won the third and last set.
Our three wings were hitting exceptionally well today and the MVP went to our dear Magdalena Gałaszewska #6, obtaining this way the second one this season! Big congratulations! 🥳💪
Hope you had good Christmas break. No training for juniors today (Monday) but we restart with out teams training on Tuesday the 4th of January at Loddon Valley at 7:30 pm, followed by the rest of the sessions on Wednesday and Thursday at normal times. See you soon!
Today our NVL team travelled South to play Sussex Dolphins with just a 7-player-squad. Not the best numbers, but feeling hopeful to put on a good performance.
Despite the great effort, we faced a strong team and the 3-1 win remained with the locals.
On the first set, Sussex successfully displayed their skillset, specially their serving, and we lost by many points.
On the second set, there was a big come back from our ladies team. Some great serving and tipping cut short the point difference. Unfortunately, we missed in the last push and they took on another set.
In the third one, we pushed back with our serving and hitting, we improved our passing, finally started to play together as a team and we won the set! 💪🏐
The fourth set was really tight and continued with great team spirit. Unluckily, it wasn’t enough and we lost the set by the minimum.
We must admit that there’s still many things to work on, but this NVL squad can do great things. Just need some time. The courage and passion shown didn’t go unnoticed. Keep watching this space 😄
And last but not least… Huge congratulations to our libero Lauren for her first MVP! 💪🤩
Another nerve-wrecking 5 sets game for our NVL ladies, who fought insatiably to take the victory home.
On Sunday, the 7th of November, the NVL team welcomed Cardiff Falcons at Kendrick School. The expectations were high and the locals brought together a full 12-players squad.
Aces began with Denisa setting and Adela opposite, Marcela and Magdalena as outside hitters, Carmel and Ellie through the middle and Stassie as libero. From the first point, our ladies looked up for the battle as the serves were strong and accurate and the attack was precise and clever. Falcons were struggling with the pass and didn’t seem to be comfortable on court. With great skills, Aces close the set 25-14.
Coach James made a couple of small tweaks and the second set started with Lana as opposite and Aga as outside with Marcela; no changes for middle players and setter. Our NVL ladies put Falcons under pressure, although they started picking up more balls and hitting more effectively. Half way through, our dear Lana got injured: an unfortunate landing post-block on one of the opposition players’ foot made her twist an ankle and had to retrieve for the remaining of the game. Adela replaced her and Zosia came in for Aga. After the incident, it took a while for Aces to focus again and they lost their lead. However, they pushed back and won the set 30-28.
With two sets already in the bag, Aces were confident they could finish the game quickly. Yet, Falcons were on full swing. They made a great comeback and seemed to be everywhere: defense was spot on and their attacks, dangerous. The entire set was neck to neck, with timeouts being called by both teams, but it was Cardiff team who took the set 21-25.
The fourth set started with Denisa, Adela, Magda, Aga, Ellie, Carmel and Stassie. Despite having a strong squad, Aces got themselves to a 10-1 deficit, also due to Falcons’ captain powerful serves. Our NVL ladies fought back, but problems with communication arose. Regardless of some really good actions, specially serves and attacks, and some key substitutions (Katie, Zosia and Federica played very well), they lost the set 11-25.
Score at 2-2, 3pm, big crowd supporting both teams… There had to be a good performance! Aces brought on the initial line-up and they didn’t disappoint. Even though Falcons put on a hard opposition, our NVL squad proved that teamwork, attitude and a powerful display win games (and make volleyball more enjoyable!). They sailed through the rest of the set to win 15-12.
Marcela’s hitting booming winners and defense, Adela’s unstoppable serving and attack, Ellie’s crucial blocks and tips, Stassie’s accurate defense/passing, Carmel’s killing serves, Denisa’s clever setting, Magda’s power and backcourt work, Zosia’s great performance, Aga’s serve, Katie’s smart placements, Federica’s accurate setting and Lana’s exceptional cover made possible this win. Everyone involved delivered, but, without a doubt, we need to thank our MVP (Marcela) for her outstanding performance that led Reading Aces to keep this win home.
On and off court there was no energy drop and the players didn’t stop cheering and supporting each other.
This NVL team has still lots in storage… Watch this space 🙂
After a win against Cardiff Falcons 7/11/21Our MVP after Cardiff game, Marcela Bletzer
After the impressive increase in club size over the past month, we have added more weekly training sessions in order to accommodate all different levels of players fairly.
In order to allow everyone to get adequate training at an appropriate and challenging level, we will be implementing a structure for our weekly training sessions:
Mondays: Juniors (Beginners/Advanced) at 7 pm) + BVA Ladies at 8:30 pm at Kendrick school Tuesdays: Men’s Team + NVL Ladies at 7:30 pm at Loddon Valley Wednesdays: BVA Ladies + Adults (beginners/intermediate) at 8:30 pm at Loddon Valley Thursdays: Experienced players only at 8:15 pm at Kendrick school
— Within the next week, emails will be sent out to everyone with details of the sessions most suitable for them —
We ask that everybody please follow this structure, and do not show up to other sessions (unless you have been invited by your coach), in order to allow everyone a fair chance to enjoy and improve their volleyball!
If you’re confused or unsure what sessions you should come to, please don’t hesitate to contact one of the committee members, or speak to the coach at a training session!
If you’d like to join us in the future, please email your name and details so we can put you on our waiting list.
Our NVL ladies welcomed Ipswich Ladies at their first home game of the season last Sunday. The game was very even with long rallies and tight 5th set but ended up unfortunately in favour of the visitors 2-3 (25-18, 20-25, 25-19, 22-25, 11-15). MVP our middle, Carmel (nr 2). Next time girls!
Today, 3rd of October Reading Aces NVL Ladies took a close 3-2 win against strong Cardiff side.
First set started strongly with RAVC taking an early lead with impressive and accurate line hits from Marcela Bletzer. A lapse of conversation and strong serving from opposition led Cardiff back into the set snd set up a nail biting finish to the first set. The team traded points with strong défence and attacks leading to a tight 28-28 score. A kill block from a middle Katie Fox set up a match point with Reading running out winners 30-28.
Second set saw the introduction of a number new players including the first appearance of Federica Amadeo as a setter. Cardiff started strongly in this set and quickly took a 8 point lead. Reading started its fight back and traded points equally but Cardiff went to win this set comfortably 25-18.
Third set has started similarly to the first set with Reading taking an early lead but the passing on serve-receive let us down however our setter Denisa Krcalova managed to rescue many tight balls and strong defence from Lana set us up for attacks. Cardiff’s good défence denied us to convert the attacks into the points and allowed Cardiff to win the set 25-15.
Fourth set RAVC showed a real fighting spirit and good commitment from everybody with players putting their bodies on the line especially a spectacular save from Libero Anastasia Antipina and insanely strong serving from Magdalena and Carmel being a real threat through the middle led RAVC to win a very important set 19-25.
The final set RAVC ladies maintained the strong momentum from the fourth set and took an early lead at what would have been a normal change over led 8-4. This lead was extended by intelligent hitting from Adela and strong cross court hitting from Aga. Magdalena strong and clever attacks cemented her MVP status and secured first win 15- 8 of the season for our NVL ladies. Congratulations!
Next Sunday our Ladies will be travelling to Loughborough for their first round of the Cup.
Saturday Reading Aces NVL Ladies travelled to Bristol for their first game since March 2020! This was a new look team with only three players playing from prior seasons.
First set began confidently, despite this being the first game for one and a half years. Reality hit with a yellow card before the first serve! The importance of the first set caused us to falter loosing our lead and resulting in a very close finish of 26-24 to Bristol.
The second set was also a close affair however Bristol were more clinical than Reading and won out winning 25-21.
The third set was similar to the first, unfortunately with a bigger lead lost. Again the set ended closely with Reading Aces fighting resiliently. The teams fight was underpinned by a strong performance from the MVP, libero Anastasia Antipina. The final score being 26-24.
Overall the sets were hard fought, with positives across the board. Lessons can be learnt from this game to build consistentcy and ensure that as a team we effectively finish points off.
Reading Aces Volleyball Club 