Melton Lions reach last eight of National Volleyball Cup

In-form Melton Lions recorded their second National Volleyball League win of the season at Warwick-Riga Volleyball Club on Saturday.
Melton Lions Volleyball Club were formed from a merger between the old Melton club and Loughborough Lions. EMN-161122-182951002Melton Lions Volleyball Club were formed from a merger between the old Melton club and Loughborough Lions. EMN-161122-182951002
Melton Lions Volleyball Club were formed from a merger between the old Melton club and Loughborough Lions. EMN-161122-182951002

With Warwick fielding two players with experience of the highest level, it was always going to be a tough away match.

Melton took the first set without playing their best, but lost the second after falling behind early on.

With the game all square, Melton then stepped up their efforts and came to life, playing some excellent volleyball.

German outside hitter Andreas Wicht enjoyed great success in attack, as did Matt Norman, hitting through the reverse position.

With an all-round strong team effort, Melton took a 2-1 lead, and never looked like giving the game away as they wrapped up victory in the fourth set with Wicht named man-of-the-match.

The win built on Melton’s success in the National Volleyball Cup a week earlier.

The Lions hosted Nottingham Rockets in a last 16 tie in front of a record crowd.

Having lost to Rockets in the league earlier in the season, Melton were looking for revenge and won the first set comfortably.

They switched off and were taught that at this level a set or game can be lost quickly without full focus as the Rockets levelled the match at one-all with steady, but not spectacular volleyball.

Melton soon regained their composure and got their game back on track, winning the third set to edge back in front in the best-of-five-set match.

The home side then moved through the gears to pull away in the final set and take the match three sets to one.

Melton’s reward is a place in the quarter-finals of the National Cup, with a tough draw away to Solent Volleyball Club at the end of January.

Solent are a Super 8 volleyball team, and one of the best teams in the country, but are currently struggling for form.

Melton will be looking to upset the odds and claim a famous away win and with it a place in the national semi-finals.

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