Opponents: Torexe & Warwick Riga
Date: Saturday 20th and Sunday 21st January 2001
Result: Torexe 3-0 Win & Warwick 3-1 Win
Headline: No Christmas Hangover as Docklands March On
Author: Andy Vincett

Last Saturday London Docklands Volleyball Club resumed their assault on the National League Division 2 title with One of their most impressive and dominating performances of the season. And then on Sunday followed that up with a hard fought giant killing in the 4th round Of the National cup against 1st Division Warwick Riga.

It's hard to say which was the best performance by the home side, as both Matches required very different mental and tactical game plans; so then perhaps it should be Docklands' consistency in versatility that we praise the most.

Saturday saw Torexe Volleyball club of Exeter, 4th in the league at the start of play, visit Bacon's College to, at least, try to do what no other club has managed this year and take a set from the mighty home team. They failed.

Torexe's game was littered with errors and, facing the awesome attack they did, spear-headed by in form Docklands and England hitter Alexis Blair, the match was emphatically closed out 25-11, 25-14, 25-16. It was the ideal tonic for the visit of seven-game unbeaten Warwick Riga to South London the following day.

Last season Docklands were relegated from Division 1 losing to Warwick twice; a score has been settled. In a hard fought first set Docklands levelled at 22-22. But then two successive Docklands serving errors gifted the set away 25-23. Coach Legrand was livid. This proved to be the catalyst for Docklands as they stung a complacent Warwick side to cruise the second Set 25-18 with Blair, again, powering his way through the visitors' defence.

This was a great team performance from the home side and when the going got tough in sets three and four the unit Docklands have built this season was the foundation they could rely on. Great blocking from Martin Blake and Yassir Slitti, superb passing by Andy Hopper and tactical serving from Mike Lams coming off the bench made sure of the match, 25-18 and 25-22, and a tough quarter-final tie at home to City of Stoke currently third in the 1st division.

Come down and watch for free: Saturday 27th January @ Bacon's College Rotherhithe. LDVC vs Whitefield of Bristol (2.00pm warm up).