Last weekend saw a number of close matches from the seniors with Marsascala taking on Kerygma, Aloysians Lipton playing against Fleur de Lys and Aloysians Reds meeting Aloysians Whites.
In the under 18 category, Paola Hibs Candy faced Kerygma and Plavolley met X-Sel. One game was played in the female's senior league between X-Sel and Kerygma.
In the first match played on Saturday, Marsascala shocked Kerygma by winning 3-1. They took advantage of Kerygma playing without some key players and immediately turned on the heat in the first set, going 13-6 up.
They kept increasing their pressure until they won this set 25-13. Kerygma improved considerably in the second set and took a two point advantage. At 11-13 down, Marsascala coach, Branco Vlahovic, took a time out which proved the turning point. Marsascala went 17-16 up and then took the set 25-23.
Marsascala continued playing well and went 14-4 up in the third one. However a rotational fault by the Marsascala team saw their points deducted, with Kerygma taking advantage of this and winning 25-11 thus reopening the match.
The fourth set saw both teams balanced until 15-14 for Marsascala when a number of Keith Mercieca’s services caused havoc in the Kerygma’s reception. Marsascala won the fourth and final set 25-18.
The second match saw Aloysians Lipton against Fleur de Lys. Lipton started very well by constructing their play on efficient services and proper attacks and took a nine point lead 21-12.
Fleur de Lys reacted and managed to win some points but this reaction was late in the game and Lipton won 25-19. Kevin Spiteri’s entry as setter for FDL with Patrick Bonett taking the position of an outside spiker position helped them to reorganise themselves better taking an 16-7 lead in the second set.
However Aloysians reacted well and with Owen Spiteri and Karl Meilaq Brunetti serving well they managed to close the gap and win 25-23. Fleur de Lys reacted well to this blow and won the third and fourth set with the identical score of 25-21, with Jonathan Chetcuti being very effective on blocks and attacks from an opposite position.
This took the match to a tie break. The fifth set was balanced but Aloysians, ably lead by their captain David Caruana never looked back and closed the set and the match 15-11.
The third and final men’s match saw Aloysians Whites play against Aloysians Reds. This was a derby between the two young Aloysians teams; with the reds showing better skill and more experience while the whites committing too many mistakes.
All the three sets quite balanced, but difference in technique and experience were very evident. Reds players Ian Wright and setter Matthew Cumbo had another good game and the latter kept his players attacking from various positions throughout the match. Darren Bugeja for distinguished himself in defense for Aloysians Whites.
A number of under 15 games were held on Sunday morning. Paola Whites beat Flyers B by 2 sets to 0, Paola Blacks lost to Kerygma, Playvolley won against Flyers A and Aloysians beat the Skola Sport team.