NUVOC too strong for Dundee

NUVOC from Edinburgh were the visitors in the men’s Premier Division game in Craigie High School last Saturday. They started well winning 6 of their first 9 points with tough serving and smart counter-attacks. Dundee rallied and scored points through Tony Gadhzev and Lewis Crockart but were still trailing 14/18. Dave Bonnar won an unexpected side out point and then Javier Suquia helped with a run of 8 points from his service! Gadhzev, Crockart and Mike Coward all scored with hits and Suquia scored 2 service points as Dundee led 23/18 and looked likely to win the set. However, it was not to be as 3 errors handed NOVOC a lifeline. A further 3 points in counter-attack gave them set point at 25/23. Dundee saved the set point and both sides traded points with the visitors winning the set 28/26 with a clever, quick, break point.

Points were traded in the early part of set two with Rad Marinov and Lewis Crockart both to the fore. Oz Dowie and Mike Coward scored with big hits and Dundee had the lead at 18/17. A run of 4 points for NUVOC gave them a cushion at 21/18 and despite giving up 2 service errors, they held out to take the second set 25/21.

A change of line-up with Michal Kowalski changing to an ‘opposite’ attacker. This paid dividends as the home side worked hard for a 9/7 lead. The familiar story of runs of points against struck again as the score moved on very quickly to 14/9 for the visitors. Five different scorers, Coward, Gadhzev, Suquia, Mariniov and Kowalski pulled Dundee to 20/21. It was point for point and NUVOC won the crucial break point to take the set 25/22 and a 3/0 win.