IBB Polonia London begins the year with a win

Following on from the spit in the Superleague table, IBB Polonia London, at the head of the table is set to play home and away against the other top teams in the country. Saturday, 19th January was the first of the matches with a relatively short journey to Bournemouth to play Wessex. The break over the festive period was a long one, but the squad trained hard in the off season to maintain fitness. The match went the way of the top team, with the Londoners coming out on top 1:3 (16:25; 25:21; 23:25; 21:25).

The game was tight and full of emotion and was a spectacle for the fans who attended thanks to the generosity of IBB Builders Merchants who funded the coach. The fans were in strong voice and supported from the very first serve to the final whistle.

IBB Polonia London Captain, Bartosz Kisielewicz was interviewed following the victory: „We had the first set firmly under control, and we played an exhibition set. unfortunately in the second set, we allowed the opposition to get back into the game, and the encounter became very even. In the third set, the lead changed from team to team, and the fourth set gave the fans what they had travelled to see. There were yellow cards, excellent blocking, defence and attacks. The final point was won by a huge hit by Victor de Oliviera and we sneaked the set 25-23. We allowed the home team to build a three point lead in the last set, but coach Simon Loftus took an early time out and offered us his thoughts and encouragement. We levelled the point score at 14 each and then pulled away to 20-15 with some super strong domination at the net. The last part of the final set was almost point for point with us sealing the win 25-21.”

The squad will focus on the next match over the coming week and will build towards a vital cup Quarter Final match against Essex Blaze on Saturday, 26th January in a different venue to their usual one of Essex University.

„Now we will challenge our strengths towards tightening up those areas we were lacking in against Wessex. We need to find our rhythm again after the long Christmas break; we have less than a week to organise ourselves once again” added Kisielewicz.

Apart from the usual league and cup, IBB Polonia London will take on the challenge once again in an official European tournament, the NEVZA Championships which will take place in Denmark. The opposition will be the best teams from northern Europe and the players want to give their very best and find their form at the right moment.

„We are training very hard and are aiming to realise our true potential. We know those teams will be a level higher than we are used to, but we continue to improve week by week and aim to peak in Copenhagen at the NEVZA tournament” concluded Kisielewicz.

Pic. sandsphotos.co.uk