It was hardly home sweet home for Sussex Dolphins on Sunday when they lost to both Tendring and London Lynx II in their opening National Volleyball League games.
They showed several changes from last season but despite a shaky start, they were level 22-22 in the first set. It then went shot for shot before Tendring's outside power hitter won it for his team 34-32.
Sussex looked more together in the second se
t and levelled the match 25-20 but some weak serving cost them the third 18-25.
In a closely fought fourth set, Tendring took an early lead but Sussex fought back to match them at 18-18. Then as home passing deteriorated, Tendring gained the upperhand as they sealed victory 25-23.
South East junior Jimmy Carey acquitted himself well in his first ever National League game but player-of-the-match was Richard Hemery.
The hosts looked more organised and twice drew level with Lynx before losing 15-12 in the fifth.
Sloppy defence cost them in a 21-25 opening set but then better serving and strong blocking put Lynx on the back foot and levelled the match 25-18.
Lynx dominated in set 3 with a five-point serving run and Sussex were never able to retrieve the deficit as they went down 25-22. But the hosts came back to square the match again courtesy of some aggressive net play and more solid defence (25-18).
Sussex started strongly in the deciding set, leading 8-4 at the changeover. But they then lost focus and made some poor hitting errors which handed the game back to Lynx.
Player-of-the-match was Martin Hicks in a squad that also included G Hill, S Nordt, D Mann, K Wagstaff, M Byerley, G Henneker and M Hicks. Coach was T Bateman.
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