COVER IMAGE: Norwood look to claim a big scalp when they clash with Lofty. © Peter Argent / Volleyball SA
LEADERBOARD AFTER RD 8
RD8 TOT
1
CooperPeacock
5
40
2
Pafagel
6
38
3
Grumpy
3
36
4
Justin93
4
36
5
twest
5
36
mysportstips.net
LION ROAR:USC Lion became the first team to beat Norwood’s men in 2013.
NORTHERN KNIGHTS
Knights close in on maiden win
N
orthern Knights came close to a maiden victory in the women’s State League reserves, before falling short against Norwood at Mt Lofty Sports Centre on Saturday. Northern entered the contest with a 0-7 record having only won three sets for the season, but pushed the Bears to five sets in an encouraging performance. Norwood took control of the contest early and the Knights looked destined for a familiar fate as they faced a two-set deficit. But Northern battled their way back into the contest, winning the third and fourth set to level the game at 2-2. Miriam Bourke produced a solid performance, as the Knights dropped a tight fifth set to see their losing streak extended. The Knights’ men missed an opportunity to return to the top four as they were defeated 3-1 by Norwood. Alex Whitehead was impressive for the fifth-placed Knights.
MEN
VS
NORWOOD BEARS
NORTHERN KNIGHTS
3 1
14-25 25-16 25-18 25-17
WOMEN NORWOOD BEARS
NORTHERN KNIGHTS
3 2
25-18 25-14 22-25 24-26 15-12
PICTURES: Peter Argent & VSA Archives
LION END BEARS UNBEATEN STREAK IN STRAIGHT SETS
U
BY DAVID PENROSE and ELLIOT KING
SC Lion snapped Norwood’s undefeated start to the men’s State League season with an impressive straight sets victory. The result left the Lion women as the only undefeated League side after eight rounds of the season.
A
ustral Phoenix has missed a chance to keep in touch with the top four in both the men’s and women’s competitions, dropping a pair of five set contests at Brighton Secondary School on Friday night. Phoenix’s men fought back from a two-set deficit to push reigning premiers Mt Lofty to five sets. Despite the performance of Rhys Wood, Austral could not
complete the comeback and slumped to 1-7 - three wins out of the top four after eight rounds. Malachi Murch was dominant for Lofty as they maintained pressure on the top four sides. Austral’s women also lost in fivesets also, blitzed by Mt Lofty 15-3 in the deciding set as they fell two wins behind fourth place. Hannah Ross was imposing for Mt Lofty as they improved to 6-2.
enley finds itself in a battle for a top four spot, despite defeating South Adelaide 3-1 in their men’s State League clash at Mt Lofty Sports Centre on Saturday. Second-place South claimed the opening set before the Hawks recovered to win in four sets. Setter Brad Tutton played a key role as Henley snapped a fourgame losing streak against South
and improved their 2013 record to 4-4. Despite the win Henley dropped a position to fourth, wedged between round eight winners USC Lion (4-4) and Mt Lofty (3-5), as the season passes the halfway mark. Henley’s women returned to the winners circle with a 3-0 victory over South. Heike Jensen was amongst the best for Henley.
SC Lion has ended Norwood’s unbeaten start to the men’s State League season, toppling the premiership favourites in straight sets at Mt Lofty Sports Centre on Saturday. Norwood had won their first seven games of the season, including victory over secondplaced South last round, but started slowly as Lion came out strong looking for a big scalp.
Lion produced a determined performance, stifling the Bears’ offence and denying them any momentum to mount a comeback. Sam Halliday fought hard for the Bears, who must now regroup ahead of a grand final rematch with Mt Lofty next weekend. USC’s women ended Norwood’s three-game winning streak with a comprehensive 3-0 victory.
H
U
02 VSA DIG. | volleyballsa.com.au
RESULTS (ROUND 08) VS MEN MT LOFTY
3
AUSTRAL PHOENIX
25-21 25-20 15-25 18-25
2
15-8
WOMEN MT LOFTY
3
AUSTRAL PHOENIX
25-27 25-23 24-26 25-15
2
15-3
VS MEN HENLEY HAWKS
3
SOUTH ADELAIDE
22-25 25-22 25-19 25-19
1
WOMEN HENLEY HAWKS
3
SOUTH ADELAIDE
0
27-25 25-17 25-20
VS MEN USC LION
NORWOOD BEARS
25-16 25-18 25-21
3 0
WOMEN USC LION
NORWOOD BEARS
30-28 25-13 25-20
3 0
LEAGUE MEN ROUND 09 PREVIEW WHO’S PLAYING?
BRIGHTON
1
MT LOFTY
2
v NORWOOD MT LOFTY
2
31/05/13
08:30 PM
USC LION
v HENLEY
01/06/13
02:00 PM
MT LOFTY
01/06/13
12:00 PM
AUSTRAL
v SOUTH
MATCH OF THE ROUND (FRIDAY 08:30PM)
USC LION VS HENLEY HAWKS
reserves wrap
USC Lion and Henley swapped positions on the ladder after round 8, despite identical records and equally impressive victories. Lion toppled the undefeated Bears in a complete three-set effort to improve their record to 4-4. The value of Cedric Legrande was again on display, as USC gained the upperhand early. Henley snapped a poor run of losses to bogey side South Adelaide, to keep space between themselves and fifth-place Mt Lofty. Brad Tutton led from the front, with Henley strong at the net, as they recovered from a one set deficit to win in four sets. This match is of huge importance for both sides, with Lion to face South Adelaide after the weekend off, and the Hawks to do battle with Mt Lofty. While the winner looks to challange for a top two position, the loser faces the possibility of dropping out of the top four in coming weeks.
Lion women lead the pack
U
SC Lion remain top of the women’s State League reserves ladder after eight rounds, improving their record to 8-0 with victory over Austral Phoenix. Austral entered the contest in third place, but were unable to end USC’s streak, crashing to defeat in four sets. Lion take on another finals
contender in round nine, when they clash with the fourth-place Norwood Bears. The Bears moved into the four after defeating the Knights, overtaking Mt Lofty who lost to South. Meanwhile, Mt Lofty’s men moved into third after defeating South in a five-set battle. Norwood remain in first place.
RECENT RESULTS: HENLEY 4, USC LION 1 (SINCE 2012) RD 04, 2013
HENLEY
3-0
25-14 25-17 25-18
RD 14, 2012
HENLEY
3-2
25-19 18-25 26-24 20-25
SF, 2012
HENLEY
3-0
25-20 25-17 25-10
PLAYER OF THE WEEK:
CHARLIE
15-6
Austral Phoenix Spikezone
LEAGUE WOMEN ROUND 09 PREVIEW WHO’S PLAYING?
Fixtures + Standings from the 2013 Junior Leagues can be found at www.volleyballsa.com.au/junior/indoor-league
31/05/13
07:00 PM
USC LION
v HENLEY
BRIGHTON
01/06/13
02:00 PM
AUSTRAL
v SOUTH
MT LOFTY
01/06/13
12:00 PM
MT LOFTY
v NORWOOD MT LOFTY
1 1 1
UPCOMING EVENTS JUNE 15
JUNE 16
JULY 20
OCTOBER 19
MATCH OF THE ROUND (SATURDAY 12:00PM)
MT LOFTY VS NORWOOD BEARS
Norwood face their second top-two side in a fortnight when they clash with Mt Lofty. The Bears fell in straight sets against top-of-the-table USC Lion, dropping to fourth on the ladder as their three-game winning streak came to an end. Norwood battled hard, pushing Lion all the way in a tight first set before struggling to maintain the intensity required. Kellie van der Linde was again an impressive performer for the Bears. Mt Lofty overcame a challange from fifth-placed Austral, prevailing with a dominant performance in the deciding set. Hannah Ross put in a powerful perfomance for Lofty as they maintained their two-game cushion over third-placed Henley. The Bears have not won a set against Mt Lofty in the past two seasons, but will be looking to make a statement as they push for finals action. RECENT RESULTS: MT LOFTY 4, NORWOOD 0 (SINCE 2012) RD 04, 2013
MT LOFTY
3-0
25-17 25-14
25-9
RD 11, 2012
MT LOFTY
3-0
25-10 25-14
25-9
RD 16, 2012
MT LOFTY
3-0
25-9
25-14 25-14
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volleyballsa.com.au | VSA DIG. 03
RESULTS (ROUND 08) RESERVES MEN NORWOOD USC LION
MT LOFTY
1
d KNIGHTS
d AUSTRAL d SOUTH
RESERVES WOMEN SOUTH
NORWOOD USC LION
d MT LOFTY d KNIGHTS
d AUSTRAL
DIV ONE MEN USC LION AUSTRAL
MT LOFTY 2 NORWOOD USC LION
Standings (after round 08) 2
d KNGITHS G d SOUTH
d MT LOFTY 1 d HENLEY
DIV ONE WOMEN
3-2 25-23 25-19 21-25 23-25 1
2
3
2
3
4
5
3-0 25-14 25-13 25-14
3-1 25-20 10-25 25-19 25-17
LEAGUE MEN 1
NORWOOD
3
USC LION
2 4 5 6
3-0 25-16 26-24 25-23
3
HENLEY
3-1 24-26 25-20 25-22 25-22 2
3
3-0 25-21 25-13 25-9
4
5
2 4 5 6
25-9
3-0 25-16 25-18 28-26
MT LOFTY
5 VENUE/COURT
14/06/13
07:00 PM
SOUTH
v USC LION
BRIGHTON
1
MT LOFTY
1
15/06/13
04:00 PM
HENLEY
v MT LOFTY
MT LOFTY
1
LEAGUE WOMEN 15/06/13 15/06/13
02:00 PM 04:00 PM
VENUE/COURT SOUTH
HENLEY
NORWOOD
v USC LION
BRIGHTON
1
MT LOFTY
2
v AUSTRAL
MT LOFTY
2
v MT LOFTY
RESERVES MEN
VENUE/COURT
15/06/13
09:00 AM
KNIGHTS
v USC LION
MT LOFTY
1
MT LOFTY
1
15/06/13
12:00 PM
NORWOOD
v AUSTRAL
MT LOFTY
1
15/06/13
10:30 AM
MT LOFTY
v HENLEY
RESERVES WOMEN 15/06/13 15/06/13 15/06/13
09:00 AM 10:30 AM
12:00 PM
MT LOFTY KNIGHTS
NORWOOD
VENUE/COURT v HENLEY
v USC LION v AUSTRAL
MT LOFTY
2
MT LOFTY
2
MT LOFTY
2
6 7
www.volleyballsa.com.au/stateleague/draws
VSA WEEKLY DIG.
WRITERS David Penrose & Elliot King DESIGNER David Penrose PHOTOGRAPHY © Peter Argent / VSA CONTACT To contribute to VSA Weekly Dig, pitch a story idea, or provide photographs, please contact David at dap.1987@hotmail.com
VOLLEYBALL SA
PHONE (08) 8363 1265 FAX (08) 8363 9085 EMAIL info@volleyballsa.com.au find 43 Lower Portrush Road, Marden, 5070. mail PO Box 145, Marden, 5070.
WWW.VOLLEYBALLSA.COM.AU 04 VSA DIG. | volleyballsa.com.au
SOUTH ADELAIDE AUSTRAL KNIGHTS
USC LION HENLEY
RESERVES WOMEN 1
USC LION
3
AUSTRAL
2 4 5 6 7
P
W
L
SF
SA
S%
P%
PTS
8
7
1
21
9
70
53
22
8
4
4
15
13
54
50
16
8 8 8 8
5 4 3 1
3 4 5 7
17
14
18
16
12 9
19 21
55 53 39 30
50 51 49 47
18 16 14 10
SOUTH ADELAIDE NORWOOD MT LOFTY HENLEY
KNIGHTS
1
SOUTH ADELAIDE
3
NORWOOD
2 4 5 7 8 9
AUSTRAL
USC LION
MT LOFTY 2 MT LOFTY 1 HENLEY
KNIGHTS GREEN KNIGHTS WHITE
AUSTRAL WHITE
3
USC LION
2 4 5 6 7 8 9
NORWOOD WEST HENLEY
SOUTH ADELAIDE NORWOOD EAST MT LOFTY
AUSTRAL PURPLE KNIGHTS
W
L
SF
SA
S%
P%
PTS
8
8
0
24
5
83
55
24
8
4
4
17
18
49
50
16
8 8 8 8
6 4 2 0
2 4 6 8
20
10
15
16
13 4
20 24
67 48 39 14
54 49 48 44
20 16 12 8
P
W
L
SF
SA
S%
P%
PTS
8
7
1
22
12
65
53
22
7
5
2
18
12
60
53
17
8 8 8 8 7
5 4 3 2 1
3 4 5 6
20 17 15 11
6
12
15 19 15 22 20
57 47 50 33 38
51 49 50 46 48
18 16 14 12 9
W
L
SF
SA
S%
P%
PTS
8
8
0
24
5
83
55
24
8
4
4
15
13
54
50
16
10
12
P
W
L
SF
SA
S%
P%
PTS
10
8
2
28
11
72
56
26
10
6
4
23
15
61
51
22
DIV ONE WOMEN 1
P
P
DIV ONE MEN
6
FULL STATE LEAGUE DRAW & RESULTS:
SOUTH ADELAIDE
3
UPCOMING fixtures (round 10) v AUSTRAL
AUSTRAL
NORWOOD
4
NORWOOD
NORWOOD
1 2
LEAGUE MEN
MT LOFTY
RESERVES MEN
25-14
d NORWOOD E 3-0 25-15 25-20 25-22
08:30 PM
AUSTRAL
LEAGUE WOMEN
NORWOOD W d NORWOOD E 3-2 17-25 23-25 25-18 25-18 15-13
14/06/13
MT LOFTY
3-2 22-25 25-21 17-25 25-19 15-12
3-0 25-14
02:00 PM
HENLEY
USC LION
d AUSTRAL P
15/06/13
SOUTH ADELAIDE
1
AUSTRAL W
d KNIGHTS
5
3-0 25-18 25-23 25-14
3-0 25-14 25-20 25-18
USC LION
4
3-2 25-18 25-14 22-25 24-26 15-12
d AUSTRAL W
SOUTH
15-5
3-0 25-17 25-23 25-15
1
d MT LOFTY
5
3-2 21-25 25-20 24-26 25-22 16-14
HENLEY
USC LION
4
3-1 14-25 25-16 25-18 25-17
1
d KNIGHTS W
3
8 8 7 7 8
9
10 10 9 9 9 8
7 3 3 2 0
7 5 5 5 3 3 0
1 5 4 5 8
2 5 5 4 6 6 8
22 16 9 5
9
21 17 24
24
10
16
19
16 19 15 11 3
22 15 19 20 24
71 43 45 35 17
71 46 42 56 44 35 11
55 49 50 50 41
54 48 46 51 49 50 41
22 14 13 11 8
23 20 20 19 15 15 8
P
W
L
SF
SA
S%
P%
PTS
10
9
1
27
10
73
56
28
10
6
4
21
12
64
54
22
21
15
10 9 9 9 9 9 9
7 6 6 4 2 2 0
3 3 3 5 7 7 9
26 21 16 9 8 0
11
12 18 22 22 27
70 64 58 47 29 27 0
54 54 53 50 43 44 32
24 21 21 17 13 13 9