The second ‘home game’ of the volleyball players of Nova Tech Lycurgus also ended this weekend in Assen in a 3-0 victory. After Huizen, Talent Team Papendal was also no match for the Groningen team.
Of course, center forward Arjan Westra was given a starting place by Lycurgus coach Arjan Taaij in the Sunday match against Talentteam Papendal. Because the man from Assen returned to the city where he previously played for Sudosa at a lower level for years. Westra, who normally does not play too many minutes for the Groningen premier league team, was allowed to show himself to his former home club and the Lycurgus supporters in the Olympus hall in the Drenthe capital.
Lycurgus did not play an easy match in the beginning in Assen, where the match was played because its own Martiniplaza, after the Huizen match won on Saturday, was not available for the second time in the weekend. A full hall saw a combative and youthful eager Talent team, which made it quite difficult for the more refined and experienced Groningers in the first. The visitors fought back against home team Lycurgus after a 22-18 deficit to 22-22.
Nice ace from Sam Gortzak
Lucurgus coach Taaij tried to get his men back on track with several timeouts. The first set was 25-22, thanks in part to a fine service ace from Sam Gortzak, for the Groningers, who got the last point when the visitors served into the net.
Talent team had to deal with a serious blow in the final phase of the first set due to the withdrawal of Thom van der Ent. His ankle hurt badly and the match was over for him. Whether Talentteam was still upset by this may have partly contributed to the fact that the resistance of the young team completely collapsed in the second set. But the fact is that Lycurgus also started to perform much better, partly thanks to an excellent substitute Maarten Bartels.
Lycurgus takes a big lead
Taaij’s men opened up a large lead, which they effortlessly held until the end of the second set. Lycurgus took a 2-0 lead at 25-14. In the third set, Lycurgus had to deal with the Talent Team, which fought fiercely for its chance not to be sent home with a 3-0 defeat.
This initially led to an even fight, after which Lycurgus took the initiative again. Lycurgus reached set and match points at 24-19 at 19-16. Talenteam was unable to control a hard ball, after which the Groningen team won the match 3-0 with a ball against the ceiling.