All Nations 2011 – Weekend One (14-15th May)

A 26 hour weekend with 3 courts equals to 96 hours of volleyball action. That’s weekend One of All Nations 2011 for you. 

This weekend just reminded me of my passion for volleyball and sport in general.  I get particularly excited when there’s a closely fought battle between two monster teams in a blockbuster event.  Everything counts.  Everything matters.  You look for which player can live up and thrive under heavy expectation.  Lastly, there can’t be two best teams out there – there can only be one winner.  

There were three consecutive matches on Sunday morning that just ignited my passion!  It’s easier to watch it then explain but first up was women’s Baltic versus Eastern Europe.  Momentum and leads kept switching in the final set.  Baltic hearts fell when the Eastern Europe’s serve struck the net to trickle over when behind 13-12.  Baltic lost the next point and subsequently the match.  The second match was women’s Italy versus Americas.  At this point, the only two unbeaten teams (4-0).  Americas lost the first set 15-25.  In the second set, with some tough serving by perhaps the best female player in the tournament, they got it back to 24-24 from 19-24 down.  Next serve went into the net.  Match point to Italy ended with Italy spiking the ball into the net and going out of bounds.  However, the ref deemed it to have come off the block.  I was so dismayed I actually shouted from the stands but to no avail!  Thus, Italy won the match and Americas were robbed.  It could have been an amazing 3rd set.  The third match was men’s UK versus Africa.  It was just a demonstration of power, passion and momentum switching!  UK won it in the final set. 

Bottom line, we lost 6 and won 0.  This is an unfair reflection of our team’s capabilities.  It took me 5 matches to find our best formation.  This is far too long in a competition where firing out of the blocks quickly is of the utmost importance.  

1.  Be enthusiatic and encouraging whilst keeping tactics simple.  During the volleyball season, I was more technical and tactical.  However, without drills and practice you can’t just theorize volleyball and expect players to adjust their performance accordingly.  

2.  The best way to quickly forge team spirit when you are losing is to pick your five best defensive players in their position and your one best hitter.  Your five defensive players will keep the ball in play (promotes hustling and team work) whilst you have an attacking outlet in your best hitter.  That somehow transformed Team Asia!  I’m sure there is an underlying group dynamics theory occurring but I don’t know what.  Also, this particular strategy is probably very specific to Team Asia.

Hopefully, I can use the above tactic to win a couple of matches.  Also, the legendary second Saturday and a night in the Birdcage.  It will get messy!  Also, something called the Finals where there can only be one winner.  

My prediction:

Men: UK to beat Italy in the finals.  Italy has history (won the last two years) but UK has a strong team this year.

Women: Eastern Europe to beat Italy in the finals.  Americas will come close though.