mu renegades take nittaidai 2 to five sets

The Melbourne University Renegades men's AVL team took on Japanese University side Nittaidai 2 in their third match of the Eric Hayman Cup on Tuesday night, February 19, at Monash University Stadium West.

Nittaidai 1 defeated them in their first match on Saturday afternoon and had not lost a match in the tournament - they also defeated Melbourne Falcons, Monash University and Casey Thunder - each of Victoria's other AVL teams. So, it was always going to be a tough game for MU Renegades, especially at the end of a regular work day.

Peter Emerson was new to the Melbourne Uni side and started in the middle with Chris Grigg as coach Nick Shashkoff chose to leave MU Renegades' regular state league Honours middle, Dean Penny, on the bench as an outside hitter substitution. With captain Nick van Gemst (former Victorian State Team member) playing passer/hitter, the MU Renegades team had a good balance of youth, experience and height on court. Nittaidai 2 meanwhile left their star hitter, Masato Muroi (number 11), on the bench, making Kozo Munakato (number 7) as the team's main spiker.

Both teams came out in the first set looking a little tired and the lack lustre play was full of unforced errors. Nittaidai 2 were putting the MU Renegades passers under pressure right from the start with strong jump serves. The Nittaidai 2 players have been under instruction not to play combination attacks and their setter was just pushing balls high outside plus the occasional quick ball for the centre players. As the set went on, the MU Renegades passing improved and their combination attacks began to cause Nittaidai 2 trouble. MU Renegades took the first set 25-23 as Nittaidai's serving and spiking errors continued to mount.

Nittaidai's Masato Muroi came on as opposite in the second set, hitting over the top of the MU Renegades block. Melb Uni Renegades were down 2-8 at their first timeout, with too many spiking and serving errors. Nittaidai 2 were also quick to pounce on their opponents, directing their serves at players under pressure. The mistakes continued for MU Renegades and Adam Wallace and Dean Penny were brought on to help the attack. But MU Renegades' only highlight for the set was setter Sacha Wilmann's spike late in the set as they went down 15-25.

The third set was a much closer affair but passing again let MU Renegades down. Sacha did manage a beautiful long B-quick to Chris Grigg from outside the court though, as he managed to make up for some of the team's digging. With Melb Uni Renegades players hitting out and into blocks the coach again made several front-court changes but Masato Muroi continued to hit over and around the block for a 19-25 win.

Melbourne Uni Renegades went in to the fourth set with a changed line-up, forward one rotation to change the opposition match-ups and with Dean starting on. Nittaidai 2 again gave Masato Muroi a rest and this time playing more sets through the middle. At 18-14 up, Ash Gibbs started rotating on to the back-court for Taleni Afatasi as Dean Penny managed several spike winners to keep MU Renegades in the lead. It was disappointing though not see the traditional Renegades "gopher" dance after Nick van Gemst served an ace at 23-18 - hopefully the new AVL team will develop their own on-court traditions as time goes on. Taleni and Peter combined in a big double block to win the set 25-18 and take the match into a deciding fifth.

Masato Muroi began the fifth set by spiking straight over two of MU Renegades' tallest blockers in Chris Grigg and Dean Penny. But it was MU Renegades that took the early lead 7-4, forcing Nittaidai 2 to bring on substitute setter, Uki Sugino. The set went down to the wire, with a timeout called at 9-9. Two successful front-court attacks by setter Sacha Wilmann for MU Renegades though weren't enough as the team's spiking errors lost them the match 12-15. It was an enjoyable final set though as both teams put in some great defense after a somewhat slow start to the match.

Despite being relatively junior side2, Nittaidai (from the Nippon Sports Science University, NSSU) have certainly shown their class and professionalism this week, accounting for not only Victoria's but some of Australia's top league teams.

The teams for the match...