GB Women lose 1st Euro League match in Scotland
Great Britain’s first European League match in Scotland ended in disappointment as they lost to a solid and clinical Romania at Meadowbank, Edinburgh. GB matched their opponents point for point for much of the match but Romania had the composure when it mattered most. It looked to be a fairytale start for the hosts with Lynne Beattie, captaining the GB team in her native 1Scotland, hitting the first point of the match to give her side the lead.
The teams traded point for point until an attack from Grace Carter through the middle gave GB a two-point cushion at 7-5. But Romania could not be shaken off. Their main threat Diana Muresan consistenly found a way through the GB block and they turned the tables by hitting four unanswered poi9nts to lead 9-7. But, inspired by some great defensive lay from Beattie, GB hit back to forge ahead again and lead 12-10 and then 13-12. It was to be the last time they led in the set. A tip over the block from Beattie again brought GB level 18-18 but she then serve narrowly wide. Another superb hit from Muresan put Romania 21-18 ahead prompting a double change from GB coach Audrey Cooper with Joanne Morgan and Rachel Bragg replacing Lucy Wicks and Rachel Laybourne. It paid dividends as the home side pulled it back to 21-21 on a strong service from Grace Carter, forcing Romania to take a time-out. It was enough to pull the team together. Elena Zaharia gave Romania set-point and, in a terrific final point which saw GB libero Maria Bertelli make a couple
of astonishing pick-ups, the last word went to Muresan who beat the home block to give Romania the set 25-21. But GB started the second set strongly, leading 9-6 and then 10-7 when Beattie thumped the ball to the floor. Janine Sandell also caught the eye for GB with some explosive hits, most notably to give GB a 20-19 lead late in the set.
Again, Muresan came to Romania’s rescue with a tip over the GB block but a hitting error from Sabina Grigoruta- Miclea gave the home side the initiative back. There was nothing between the teams - Sandell was wide with a hit to put Romania 22-21 in front and then Obiamaka Onyejekwe served into the net. But Nichola Orborne returned the favour by serving long to give Romania their first set point and Alina Albu finished it off 25-23. GB did not let it unsettle them and came out with all guns blazing in the third set - a towering block from Sandell giving them a 3-0 lead. But Romania kept nagging away, fighting back from 1-4 to 6-5 and forcing Cooper into a time-out.
Romania battled to an 11-7 lead before a rare hitting error from Muresan let GB back into things and gave the home crowd hope that the match could be salvaged. When the same player was long with another spike to make it 12-12, Sandell put GB back in front with an intelligent hit through the middle. GB led 16-13 and 21-18 and this time kept their grip on the set. The excellent Sandell gave them set point as she hit the ball off the block and it was Sandell who hit the final point to give GB the set 25-20.
Romania came back in the fourth set, a fortunate net cord helping them and then a slack hit by Sandell suggested the fates were conspiring against GB as they trailed 8-12. A strong serve from Grigoruta-Miclea took it to 16-9 and, for the first time, the strain appeared to be showing on the home side. GB fought back from 11-18 to 18-20 but Romania had too many weapons in the end and took the set to secure the match by taking the set 25-20, Irina Radu hitting the match point. Romania head coach Bogdan Paul was satisfied with the performance. “A victory is a victory and I am happy to win today. We knew it would be a difficult game for us and it’s possible the set we lost today will cost us,” he said.
“We played against an opponent who were much better than last week. Bu this is a young team - if we qualify for the finals, then it would be perfect. “But it is more important for our players to learn to manage situations when they fall behind. I’m disappointed to lose the set but, as a young team, it is important to learn. Every set is important and they have to learn from their mistakes.”
Captain Claudia Gavrilescu “GB were very good team with strong defence and expansive in offence. They fought and tried to win every ball. “They hit stronger than the last game and did not make as many mistakes as they did in Constanta.”
Great Britain captain Lynne Beattie said:“We’re very disappointed not to get the win but there are a lot of positives to take into tomorrow’s match. We’re getting there bit by bit and there were a lot of good performances - everyone gave it a hundred per cent. We have offence to come and we need to carry the desire we had into tomorrow’s match.”
Coach Audrey Cooper said: “I’m disappointed we couldn’t take it to a fifth set after a strong third set. I thought the players were awesome today and I think we still have a lot more to bring into the match. “Errors cost us the fourth set. I think we made four serving errors and you can’t do that and not pay for it. I’m pleased with the way we are being aggressive and going for it but we can’t make those momentum mistakes. But the effort was fantastic.”
