Volleyball: Five-star Wessex continue fine run (From Thisisdorset)

Volleyball: Five-star Wessex continue fine run

5:35pm Wednesday 12th December 2012 in Latest Sport By Ian Wadley

CAPTAIN Vicky Palmer predicted a difficult 2013 schedule after helping in-form Wessex Rocare climb to second in the Super 8s standings.

The Dorset outfit will be hoping to continue their fine run in the new year after signing off for the festive break with a fifth consecutive victory.

Wessex Rocare claimed a 25-10 25-19 25-20 home win over Portsmouth on Saturday to move into the top two – much to the delight of skipper Palmer.

She said: “We are very happy with the result and getting a win that puts us second.

“We now have the Christmas break and a tough schedule of matches in the new year.”

With Lizzie Smith breaking the record for the season with 10 successive serves, Wessex roared to a 25-10 first-set success.

Wessex followed that with a set that included no serving errors and together with consistent setting and clever attacking, they moved further ahead with a 25-19 win. A final set victory by a margin of 25-20 completed the triumph.

However, the club’s men’s team had a rare day to forget as they suffered their first defeat of the campaign.

Wessex remained top of Division One but only on sets difference after London Docklands claimed a win that saw them move level with the leaders on 19 points.

Wessex failed to match their usual high standards as hosts Docklands gained the upper hand early in the contest.

Docklands edged ahead to win the opening set 25-20 before Wessex hit back to take the second by the same scoreline. But Docklands were not to be denied and they closed out the clash with 25-23 and 25-19 wins.

Despite the setback, Wessex have enjoyed a strong start to the campaign. As well as sitting top of the table at the Christmas break, they are also through to the cup quarter-finals.