Northern Ireland defeats Malta by 3-1 in CEV Junior Volleyball European Championship match
A 2012 CEV Junior Volleyball European Championship – Women (Small Countries Division) match was recently played in Cospicua, Malta.
The two teams that made a show of their skills were the home squad of Malta along with the team from Northern Ireland. The match between the two sides took on interesting turns that kept the audience excited as it went on for four thrilling and competitive
sets.
By the time that the fourth set had reached its close, the squad that was celebrating its well-deserved win was the guests from Northern Ireland as a disappointed home team moved out of the courts.
The match between Northern Ireland and Malta was not the only one played on the day but the teams from Cyprus and Scotland also fought against each other in Pool B of the championship. The match between the two sides also took four sets at the end of which
Cyprus came out to be the winners.
The start of the first set of the game saw the team from Northern Ireland come out strong and take the lead at 8-4. After the two sides came back from the first technical time out, the Malta team was able to pull itself up by closing in the gap at 20-21.
However, the Northern Ireland team did not give up their dominance and held on until they had bagged the opening frame at 25-20.
The momentum generated from winning the first set of the frame enabled the Irish to dominate in the second set as well. However, Malta was able to steadily gain on their opponents and take the advantage for themselves at 21-20. After a tug of war between
the two sides, the Irish were able to get the upper hand again as they secured the second frame at 25-23.
The loss of the first two frames increased the determination of the Malta squad and they were able to push themselves harder in the third frame. As a result, Malta was able to smother the Northern Ireland team by 25-15.
Unfortunately for Malta, the third frame was the only moment of glory that they could achieve as Northern Ireland got themselves the final set of the game.
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