The first of 5 Sitting Grand Prix events took place today at the National Volleyball Centre, Kettering. East London Lynx, 2012-13 Champions, and Loughborough Lions opened proceedings. It was the former who got off to a winning start, taking the match in two sets. Battleback’s first game was against Portsmouth; both teams had a few new faces and looked stronger than in prrevious seasons. Portsmouth put up a good fight but didn’t quite have enough in the tank to challenge, losing 25-17, 25-20. Canterbury City Wyvern’s, who usually play in the Tier 2 division, had the chance to play against the top teams from Tier 1 after the competition was drawn in a single pool. They found it tough going in the first set, but gave a good showing in the second, racking up a valiant 16 points along the way.
The longest game of the day belonged to Lincoln Imps and Portsmouth as the two locked horns for 45 minutes. Portsmouth took the match in two sets, but there were plenty of rallies to keep everyone entertained. Loughborough Lions were one set up in no time against Canterbury, winning the set to 4, but the team from the south east picked themselves up and nearly squared the match, narrowly losing out 25-22 in the second. Battleback enjoyed a comfortable victories over Lincoln Imps, who never really got into their stride, and Canterbury City Wyverns. East London Lynx despatched of Portsmouth in two sets, setting up what looked to be a winner takes all match against Battleback. Portsmouth and Loughborough looked to be battling for third place. Some big hitting from newly capped GB team member Kev Tann wasn’t enough to secure a victory, as Portsmouth wrapped the game up in two sets. Lincoln Imps registered their first win of the day against Canterbury, and followed suit against Lions, knocking Loughborough down to fifth with one round of games remaining.
The first and only 3 setter of the day was predictably between Lynx and Battleback. Lynx took the first set 25-19, but Battleback hit back 25-17 in the second. The third set was a bit of an anti climax as Lynx seemed to run out of steam, allowing Battleback to run away with the victory, 15-4. This sealed their place at the top of the table, with Lynx in second ahead of Portsmouth, Lincoln Imps, Loughborough Lions and Canterbury Wyverns.
