FOR the first time ever Jersey are in the semi-final of the Volleyball England National Shield after beating Stowmarket 3-2 in the quarter-finals at Haute Vallée on Saturday.
Another first – this was the one and only time that Jersey had been allowed to host a Volleyball England National league game – was also appreciated by player/coach Lee Ingram, although he believes that home advantage could have cost his HLB Jackson Fox team dearly.
For after winning the first set 25-19 and seemingly cruising, 9-3, in the second, they let Stowmarket into the game at 20-20 and promptly lost that 23-25 and the third, 16-25.
‘Once we started winning we relaxed too much and I think that the expectation of not pleasing the home side had an impact on us,’ he said. ‘We were too nervous and didn’t play our natural game although once we forced them into a fifth set I always believed we would win.’
• Mick Toal hits the deck for Jersey. Picture by Jon Guegan (00621953)
