Tuesday 7th October saw Hermitage M1 welcome Boston VC for the first league game of the season in the East Midlands Regional League. The team has a balance of fresh faces and experienced players carrying confidence from last season where back-to-back championships was narrowly missed.

The first set saw a balanced contest, with an improved Boston side staying very consistent and providing threat through the outside to just edge the set 26-24, in large parts due to their impressive serving pressure. Hermitage were able to push back in the second set in what stayed a close contest, tying the match with a 25-22 win. Boston were able to turn the screw in the 3rd set with an organised block and continued pressure through the outside hits, taking a confident 2-1 set lead winning 25-19. Hermitage were again able to regroup and vary their attacks to keep the Boston defence guessing taking the 4th set 25-19. A 5 set thriller to kick the league off!

A tight and cagey 5th set (as always!) saw Hermitage with a narrow 8-7 lead at the turn, before Elliot was able to string a short run of serves together to create some breathing space for the home side, before a Boston missed serve at 12-14 secure the narrowest of wins for us to start the season on the perfect note. Well done to the lads!

Hermitage MVP - King, T

Boston MVP - Barrass, D

- written by satisfied MVP, Tom