The volleyball players of Samen Lycurgus missed out on the final matches for the Dutch title after a 3-1 loss against Orion in Doetinchem. They go between Orion and Dynamo, which defeated SSS 3-0
To say that it would not be an easy evening for Lycurgus against Orion in Doetinchem was an understatement. The Groningen team had to book a big victory in the last game of the championship group. Only with a 3-0 or 3-1 win could the men still qualify for the final matches for the Dutch title. The two teams that finished at the top of the group will play for the championship.
Reaching the final turned out to be too much of a task for Lycurgus, who had traveled to Doetinchem with the necessary confidence after winning the national cup. However, Orion showed that it was not for nothing that they were the leader of the championship group with 23 points. The home side dominated from the start of the first set. Lycurgus had too little to answer defensively to the devastating blows of Orion players Samuli Kaislasalo, Edson Felissimo and the Finn Jere Heiskanen. The latter has proved to be an excellent asset since his arrival in Doetinchem.
Lycurgus offered too little against all that offensive violence. Too many players from Groningen could not finish their set-ups fatally, but had to limit themselves to not too difficult jabs. It led to a 25-21 set win for Orion.
Lycurgus coach Arjan Taaij has to change a lot
Lycurgus coach Arjan Taaij intervened and changed players. Tieme de Jong replaced Markus Held as playmaker and Hoogevener Geoffrey van Gent was brought in on the diagonal position. It took a while to see the effect. Orion started better in the second set and led 15-9. There seemed to be no problem for the Doetinchemmers.
But Lycurgus started showing more fighting spirit. The Groningen team fought their way closer point by point and played their best volleyball when they reached the so-called big points. A number of beautiful blocks on hard Orion hits from Niels de Vries, Geoffrey van Gent and Kyle McCauley brought Lycurgus to the set point via 22-23. That was beaten in by the American McCauley. With 23-25 it became 1-1.
In the third set, Lycurgus, which now also had Maarten Bartels in the line, had more of the initiative from the start. Luuk Hofhuis, the best blocker in the Eredivisie, also threw his specialty into the fight. The Groningen team had a two-point lead for a long time. The duel was fought on the cutting edge and the 500 spectators saw many an exciting rally.
The tension is cutting
Both teams did little for each other. With 17-20 for Lycurgus, the important points started. The smart smashing McCauley was important in that. Via 18-21, 19-21, 20-21 it became 21-23. The tension was cut. The room exploded as Orion tied the score at 23-23. Reason enough for coach Taaij to call his Groningen men together for a time-out.
After a wild blow from Bartels, who went out, the home team reached match point 24-23. That was prevented 24-24, but moments later, at 25-24 and the second match point, Van Gent hit on behalf of Lycurgus. Orion took a 2-1 lead via 26-24 and was therefore already certain of one game point and playing the final for the national championship. Lycurgus, which was third in advance with 21 points, could no longer catch up with Orion in the standings.
The fourth set was actually a formality. With the finals out of sight, Lycurgus could only try to win the game. But the Groningen people were broken. They fell behind 18-10, but straightened their backs one more time. The Groningen team came close, but also lost 25-23 in the fourth set.