UUJ Upset Aer Lingus Jets

Coach and captain Nick Wright directs the UUJ during a time-out

UUJ, 18 Feb 2007 - In the All-Ireland Premier Volleyball League, 7-4 UUJ defeated 1st placed 9-2 Aer Lingus Jets at the weekend at the University of Ulster's Jordanstown Campus.

It was an enthralling match for UUJ's last home game of the season with Aer Lingus taking an early 1-6 lead at the start of the 1st set. This lead proved too much for UUJ to overcome and were always behind in the set finally losing it 22-25.

The crowd got behind the home team in the 2nd and 3rd sets and spurred on by the support UUJ's big hitters showed their class.

Strong serving by Napier, Workman and Wright was mirrored when Greenlee was substituted on for Middle Blocker Bell to serve. Greenlee answered the coaches call by serving 2 aces in a run of serves which allowed UUJ to take the lead in the 2nd set.

UUJ's Napier from Bangor was hitting winners both from front court and back court and with outstanding setting by UUJ Sports Scholar Mark Fulton UUJ took the 2nd and 3rd sets 25-19 and 25-19 to take a 2-1 set lead in the match.

Aer Lingus again took an 0-5 early lead in the 4th set going up as UUJ seemed to lose their concentration. UUJ's Fulton showed signs of fatigue after coaching the NI Junior Men's team for 2 full days and back up setter Chris Grant was called in to run the UUJ offence but with a mountain to climb for UUJ Aer Lingus took the set 18-25.

UUJ looked as if they had thrown the match away at the start of the 5th set as Aer Lingus took an early 1-5 lead in the first to 15 points deciding set, but they rallied round and the crowd support again lifted the UUJ team to close the gap to 7-8 at the change of ends.

But in the end it all came down to hard serving and supreme blocking for UUJ with the score at 9-11 Garvagh man Alan Workman took up the mantel and didn't show any sign of nerves as he jump served 5 serves in a row. Aer Lingus were unable to cope with the pressure of the serve and the UUJ front row of Wright, Hamilton and Napier rose high over the net to block out the Aer Lingus offence and take a 14-11 lead. It seemed fitting that a kill from Tom Napier took the set 15-12 and the match 3-2.

Napier led the UUJ scoring with 22 points from 18 kills and 4 blocks. But it was a great team effort on the UUJ side with setter Mark Fulton directing the offence of Wright with 18 points from 15 kills and 3 blocks, Workman with 17 kills and Great Britain International David Hamilton with 11 kills and 3 blocks.

UUJ team: #1 Adam Bell, #2 (Libero) Mark Hazley, #3 Chris Grant, #4 (Captain) Nick Wright, #5 Tom Napier, #7 Tony Liken, #8 Mark Fulton, #9 Alan Workman, #10 David Hamilton, #18 Wilson Greenlee.

UUJ captain Nick Wright commented after the game

“That was one of the best games of volleyball I have ever played and I have played a few. It was a great game for the fans that came out to support us. It is just a pity they will have to wait until next season for another home game with our team playing as well as they are right now”.