By
AB Kade Rogers
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SQNLDR
Kirily Dearing (6) and SGT Tatiana Zuchart (7) defend against
CAPT Erica Rodgers (3) and SGT Tracy Dittmar (8) in the
women’s final between Queensland and NSW.
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Photo
by AB Kade Rogers
|
IT
WAS Queensland all the way when they smashed their way to victory
at the National ADF Volleyball titles in Brisbane last month.
In the women’s final, Queensland easily accounted for NSW,
taking three out of four sets, while the Queensland men’s
team sent a visiting Royal Navy side packing with a three-from-five
-sets win.
In the women’s final, the northerners cruised through the
first set, 25-13. Squadron Leader Kirrily Dearing and Major Jenny
Becker proved to be an effective attacking combination.
NSW strengthened their defence in the second set. They quickly
added points to the board with the setting of Captain Erica Rodgers
and spiking of Corporal Merika Nilsson.
Queensland responded, adding Squadron Leader Vicky Campbell to
their attacking line up, and took the second set 25-16.
NSW took advantage of a loss of Queensland momentum in the third
game, winning 25-15.
Queensland played their starting line up in the fourth set as
both teams attacked and defended fiercely, the scores 3-all in
the first three minutes.
A three-pronged attack by SQNLDR Campbell, SQNLDR Dearing and
MAJ Becker quelled any potential threat imposed by NSW.
Flight Lieutenant Gretchen Fryer came on for NSW as a last-ditch
attempt to salvage points for the sinking NSW side but to no avail.
The Queenslanders took the final set 25-7.
In the men’s final, Queensland started strongly against the
English visitors but it became a close set, the home state just
taking the first game by a point, 24-23.
The Royal Navy defenders focused in the second set. They put nine
points on the board to take a 6-point lead at one stage. A point-for-point
duel ensued and Queensland bounced back with effective blocking,
which levelled the scores 22-all.
Frustration mounted, tempers flared and a Royal Navy team member
was shown a yellow card.
Queensland broke the stalemate and finished the second set 29-37.
They went on to win three out of five sets.
