TENDRING 3

WESSEX BU 0

(26-24, 25-21, 25-15)

TENDRING finished their regular Super 8s campaign with a 3-0 victory against Wessex.

It saw them bounce back to winning ways after a tough losing streak.

Wessex started well and built a 10-0 lead, with the home team struggling to return their serve.

The tables soon turned, though, as Tendring refused to buckle under pressure.

Standout setter Molly Van Essen was up for the challenge and produced a remarkable service to close a nine-point deficit to just two.

Mechelle Daniel came up with six kills and, in a point-for-point battle, Tendring took an intense opening set 26-24.

In spite of the home team’s momentum, the second began much like the first, with Wessex leading 8-1.

Opposite Charlotte Bontems had a rough start to the match but produced a kill, a critical solo block and a service run to put an end to the Wessex's lead.

Tendring libero Lena Bitadou refused to let anything hit the floor and her side wrap up a 25-21 victory.

In set three, Tendring showed real energy and, with the large home crowd behind them, they engineered an 8-1 lead.

Wessex refused to go out without a fight, though.

Colleen King responded with two kills and a block in her season return, after an injury that kept her out for nearly three months, helping her team maintain a comfortable lead.

Fellow American Skye Gullatt was solid while Emily Bell brought energy on the outside, making her presence felt by coming in from the bench with two kills down the line.

It meant Tendring won the third set by ten points, 25-15.

Next up for the team is their play-off quarter-final on the weekend of April 7 and 8.