First game in an Olympic training venue
Day 5
Wednesday 12 March
After visiting various historic sites early in the trip, the Blues tour group needed some serious retail therapy and a trip to Chao Yang Market was the perfect antidote.
The group explored the market and surrounding export fashion stores for two hours, scoring some good bargains on sunglasses, mobile phones, toys and shoes. Members also discovered they had been paying too much for purchases at tourist sites – a common trap for foreigners.
We moved on to Beijing Communication University, where physical education staff greeted us and provided a quick tour around campus. More group photos ensued, including shots in front of the quality new stadium where the team would play.
Players were amazed at the contrast from playing in a 100-year-old former swimming pool at Tsinghua to a modern Olympic training venue at Beijing.
After the game, we visited a restaurant serving one of Mrs Shen’s favourite styles of cooking – plates of lamb, squid, vegetables and many varieties of mushrooms dipped in a thick boiling soup.
For some, it was straight to bed or the chance to watch some newly-bought DVDs at the hotel; others enjoyed a few hours at a local bar owned by a English ex-pat and his Chinese fiancée.
MATCH REPORT
Intensity of play was high from the opening point of the first set. Beijing Communication University challenged our starting six with a mixture of precise hitting and well placed tips. Qi Shen made some key changes, bringing on young gun Nick Lemalu and experienced setter Chris Giacomi.
Momentum was gained but the set was lost 20-25. Nick continued to star in the second set with power hitting, Matt Campbell also turned up the heat. Michael Werner lifted his intensity and impressed fiancé Nicole who arrived in the morning to support the Uni Blues team. Young centre blocker Chris O’Keefe made a welcome start and the team held off against some powerful attack to take the second set 25-23.
The Blues’ tipping continued to frustrate the opposition in the third, Aaron Krahe and Chris Lyne proving invaluable in defence at the net. Nick was inspirational in attack, hammering some huge spikes into the centre. The Blues went from 16-18 down to leading 23-18 and Matt Campbell finished the set with a damaging spike for the 25-20 win.
The youthful pace of a well-drilled Beijing crew started to have an effect in the fourth, Matt keeping the Blues in the game early and Mick Werner’s game continuing to benefit from the presence of his fiancé. Beijing hung on to take a tight set 25-23, opening the game up for a tough final set.
Aaron had also lifted his game after the arrival of wife Lisa and along with Matt Campbell, controlled the net in the first five minutes. Nick kept up his intensity in attack as the game levelled at 10-10. The Blues sadly missed some easy chances to move ahead and Beijing capitalised, taking the fifth set 15-12 for a hard-fought win.
COACH’S COMMENTS
Mrs Shen called a team meeting after the game to drill into the players their need to use their opponents’ weaknesses more often, particularly the gaps in blocking. She reinforced the need for all to enjoy themselves.
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