Nudgee, Churchie match tells all for 2023 GPS volleyball premiership
GPS First V volleyball latest: The long-awaited standoff between 2022 champs Nudgee and an unbeaten Churchie has ended with one team guaranteed to be premiers. The winner revealed here, along with who who ruled in round 7.
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The long-awaited standoff between 2022 premiers Nudgee and the undefeated Churchie has ended with one team guaranteed to finish on top, and the other scrambling for silver.
With only two rounds to play, Churchie are clear ladder leaders after winning 3-0 over Nudgee in a thrilling performance.
Meanwhile Nudgee’s fate is unclear, with Toowoomba Grammar School and Brisbane State High School hot on their heels for runner-up.
See how it all unfolded this week as www.couriermail.com and Quest News continue their coverage of the GPS Volleyball season.
Nudgee College v Anglican Church Grammar School, NC
It was a top of the table clash that had spectators on the edge of their seats.
Reigning champions Nudgee College hosted Anglican Church Grammar School for a first v second battle to decide who would continue dominance with just three rounds to play.
A crowd of students from the visiting side flocked to join home-side supporters on the sidelines and in the stands.
SECONDS RESULT: It was a hard fought 2-0 loss, as the second set went point for point. Churchie strode out to win.
The first set started with Nudgee hitting crosses from outside and Churchie unable to return.
Three points passed by Churchie before Sampson Nott hit through Nudgee’s block to gain serve for his team.
It was a much needed momentum shift that allowed Churchie to level the score after a short few minutes, thanks to hitting from #2 Luka Sazdov.
#5 and #2 Churchie set up a strong block on the outside to Levent Nudgee #12 from delivering his usual blows.
Churchie extended their lead to 13-8, leaving Nudgee behind to scrabble.
#1 Cooper Sharpe delivered a series of hits that the home side could not return.
The effect of Nudgee’s cheer squad seemed to kick in as they closed the gap to 19-17.
There was only 1 point separating the teams when Nudgee called their first time-out.
Hits through the middle from #5 Samuel Welsh kept Churchie in the lead.
Both teams worked tirelessly until the end, with the set eventually closing in the visitors’ favour 26-24.
The second set opened in a different fashion, with Churchie claiming the first points.
It was the never-say-die attitude of Nudgee’s passing line that kept the score within one, until they broke ahead 10-7.
Nudgee’s #12 Timothee Phillippe was strong at the net and in his serves.
Oliver Chancellor was next to show off a series of impressive hits at the net.
Neither team could extend past a 2-point lead, as the score gradually grew to 22-22.
Churchie once again had the final say in the set, thanks to the quick reflexes of Leo Callaghan at the net.
Justin Chiang made an appearance for the visiting side in the third set, coming on to deceiver a series of powerful serves in replacement of Welsh, who made himself known once again through the middle.
The score reached 10-10.
The hosts remained equally strong in attack, but struggled to return the strong serves of Churchie’s Sharpe.
Within minutes, the tied score line blew out to 15-11 in favour of the away team.
Nudgee called a time-out at 19-14 in efforts to stop Churchie’s run of points.
In the dying moments it was once again Sharpe who delivered powerful serves that left Nudgee scrambling to hold off the final two points.
The final blow came from a Nudgee error at the net.
CHURCHIE STAR PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
#1 Cooper Sharpe
#2 Luka Sazdov
#5 Samuel Welsh
#8 Sampson Nott
#6 Justin Chiang
#10 Oliver Chancellor
IN OTHER GAMES
Gregory Terrace trumped Brisbane Grammar School in a 3-0 win, that keeps them fifth on the ladder on equal wins with Brisbane State High School and Toowoomba Grammar School.
Meanwhile Brisbane Boys’ College shared a taste of victory over Ipswich Grammar Schoolto bump them into sixth.
Toowoomba and State High both had a bye this round.
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