Big Block Newsletter Issue 22
Big
March / April 2011 Issue 22 (Volume 2) olleyball Squads
Official Newsletter of the
Irish Mens V
Irish battle in Belfast reaps positives The new look Republic of Ireland Senior and Junior men’s volleyball squads were in action recently in the University of Ulster (Jordanstown), Belfast for the celebratory St. Patrick’s weekend International tournament. Although the Irish men’s teams didn’t come away with a winning result from any of their games, there were many positives to take as they look towards the Summer months ahead and further afield, with many young players involved right throughout the travelling party showing big credentials already for bigger things. It was also the squad’s first time in 10 years to send three of its teams together into competition, with its Youth team having also only started training at the end of January.
The squads have gone through a rigorous transitional and training period over the last 2 months in preparation for the event, with the Junior teams
Block
training in Loughrea, Finglas, Mallow and Dalkey, while the Senior team trained in Limerick for a weekend and notably with the Junior teams also for a session in March in Dalkey, which was also attended by a number of past squad members, both players and staff. At last year’s event in St. Mary’s College Naas, the Irish men’s teams didn’t win their matches against Northern Ireland, although it could be said that the Senior team left behind them what would have been a famous win after their 2-3 loss. With the teams much changed since then however, the aim for the Irish this year was to build experience and confidence for the younger members of each squad, as well as being exposed to a higher standard of volleyball whilst competing against it. This year’s event in Belfast, hosted by the NIVB and the Northern Ireland squads, also welcomed the Scottish Senior team, who were Ireland’s first opponents last June in Andorra during their CEV 2011 Championships Qualification Round, and who have also qualified for the Final Round this summer. The tournament also allowed the squads an opportunity to stay in Belfast for the weekend, helping to build professionalism amongst the teams and also the team spirit between the players.
IRISH YOUTH TEAM - Top Row (L - R): Richard Roc ker (Fitness Coach), Linc oln Borsatto (Technical (Davis College, Mallow), Advisor), 4. Aidan McDonn 7. Shane Quinn (St. Rap ell (St. Raphael’s College hael’s College, Loughre , Loughrea), 10. Darren a), 15. Anton Zhereshchin 5. (C) Caomhan Conagh Lynch (Fingal Community College an (St. Brigid’s Vocational ), 6. Shane Whelan (Coláist School, Loughrea), 20. Jos e Chathail Naofa, Dungarv ef Lumelay (St. Raphael’s an), College, Loughrea), Dav id Herlihy (Coach), Laurent Front Row (L - R): 12. Paw Cauet (Head Coach) el Nowakiewicz (Portlao ise College), 18. Paul Hol ohan (St. Raphael’s College McEvoy (Davis College, , Loughrea), 1. Patrick Halp Mallow), 11. Adam Finn in (St. Brigid’s Vocational egan (Davis College, Mal School, Loughrea), 2. Ste low), 16. Mark Whelan (Co phen láiste Chathail Naofa, Dun garvan), 17. Patryck Piet rzak (Davis College, Mal low)
The irish abroad Oisín McArdle »» Club: MTV 1881 Ingolstadt (GER) »» Domestic League: We are in the Bayernliga Süd, which is the 1st Division in Bavaria. Above that comes the Regionalliga, and then the crème-de-la-crème, the Bundesliga. There are thousands of teams competing in the hundreds of subdivisions that is Volleyball-Germany. »» How are your team’s training sessions structured?: 3 times weekly, each lasting two and a half hours. Training is very much fitness and strength-based, and done at a disciplined high-tempo, with the players applying themselves with a seriousness and commitment level similar to that of a World League final! »» What’s the difference between your league and the Irish leagues?: The general level of the league is definitely higher than that of the Irish Premier League. Because
Irish YOUTH TEAM PERFORMS PROUDLY Having lost disappointingly to the Northern Ireland team in the friendly match on the morning of Saturday March 19th, the Republic of Ireland U-17 team regrouped for their official match later in the day to produce a sterling performance against their counterparts. In setting a target of 12 points in each set, Coach David Herlihy ensured the players shook of the nerves and enjoy their International debuts by playing for each other as well as their friends and families courtside. And with this in mind, the Irish exploded into life, playing with passion, digging deep and in the end, getting to 17 points at the first time of asking; a dramatic turnaround from their set scores in the earlier friendly match. The 2nd set saw an even better performance from the Irish as, although Northern Ireland were in the lead from the start, the boys in green were snapping at their heels right throughout the set, with the aggressive attacks by Josef Lumelay pinning the opposition back on several occasions. An even
better points tally of 19 was reached in this set, and even at 0-2 down, there was now much confidence within the Irish camp of taking the 3rd set to put the hosts on edge.
It wasn’t to be however as Northern Ireland took a commanding lead at the start of the 3rd set and were in control. The Irish were being forced into tactical changes mid-way through in an attempt to swing the score around, and with that there was a spirited fight, especially after the Irish team’s last time-out together. Although Northern Ireland took the set 25-15 and the match 3-0, there was no disappointment within the Irish ranks, as it was a proud moment for Irish volleyball with the youngest crop of players all making their debuts heroically. Credit also to the Northern Ireland team for their performance and their preparation together since September 2010 under the fantastic guidance of Coach Chris Grant.
DVC), er’s Hill College, Naas and ), 9. Ion Commendant (Pip low Mal , lege Col vis (Da nal School, Kamil Zieba ford (St. Brigid’s Vocatio lc (Assistant Coach), 11. Loughrea), 16. Liam Bed Top Row (L - R): Piotr Szu Brigid’s Vocational School, IRISH JUNIOR TEAM (St. erty Hav l Nial 5. ), College, Mallow (Head Coach) 12. Luke Linehan (Davis England), Laurent Cauet 6. Barry Mangan (NUIG), , Watford and Danes VC, bles nsta (Du phy Mur n an), Mangan (NUIG), 7. Rya Chathail Naofa, Dungarv Loughrea), 17. (C) Sean Mike Bumster (Coláiste (Eurocampus Dublin), 2. ov Sav tin Mar 8. IG), (NU , Mallow), 1. Sean Gorman ie O’Sullivan (Davis College Front Row (L - R): 13. Jam a) hael’s College, Loughre 4. Martin Murray (St. Rap
Irish U-20 team fall short to Northern IRELAND
After a decent performance to their morning in their friendly match where all players got court time, albeit a 0-2 loss, the Irish U-20 team were hoping for a winning result in their official match against Northern Ireland. The teams have been close over the past 2 years, with no team recording a straight-sets victory at any stage. The Irish faced an up-hill struggle in earning a win however as they lost the 1st set, mainly due to a lack of aggression in attack at the net. The 2nd set was looking down too for the Irish at 13-21 down, but in never giving up and having nothing to lose, Coach Laurent Cauet took a risk by introducing lesser experienced play-
ers who managed to show they have something to bring to the team, in particular Jamie O’Sullivan who hit a serving hot-streak, and helped put the team back on track. The remarkable comeback was led also by strong wing attacks from Ion Comendant, and doing so, helped the Irish overturn the deficit into a remarkable 25-22 win to lift Irish hopes. The Irish continued their good momentum into the 3rd set, but it slowly came to a grind as Northern Ireland had time to seal their blocks for the Irish wing attacks, with little coming from the Irish at this stage through the middle. In attack, Northern Ireland’s Adam Hunter was back on court and his attacks proving a menace for the Irish in their block and defence, helping them to a 2-1 lead. In the 4th set, Ireland were running out of steam, with serves becoming too easy for the hosts, allowing them to take the set and the match on a 3-1 score line. In comparison to previous meetings, it was still a good performance from Ireland and significant progress is showing after their trip to Italy last January, and ultimately since the encounter between the sides in March 2010.
many kids have been playing since a very young age, there is a lot more funding in the game which allows for small communities to also have their own team that competes in an organised and competitive league without the fear of cancelled games or disbanded divisions.
»» What does it feel like to play in the Irish jersey?: The pride of putting on the Irish jersey cannot be beaten. We’ve been through a lot together since the re-emergence of the squads in 2009, but we were always together, not only as a squad, but as a band of brothers; that feeling of belonging within a team is something that just adds to the sheer honour of representing your country, a feeling that cannot be duplicated playing here in Germany, no matter at what level.
IRISH SENIOR TEAM (v Northern Ireland) - Top Row (L - R): David Herlihy (Tea m Manager), Piotr Wazsiew 6. Barry Mangan (NUIG), ski (Assistant Coach), Linc 14. Sean Mangan (NUIG), oln Borsatto (Technical 11. (C) Oisín McArdle (MT Advisor), V 1881 Ingolstadt, German 10. Niall Madden (Ulster y), 13. Andrew McCarth Elks VC, Northern Ireland), y (EuropWYD VC), 16. Tom 8 Ion Commendant (Pip McTigue (Garda VC), er Hill College, Naas and DVC), Richard Rocker (Fitn ess Coach) and Laurent Front Row (L - R): 7. Rya Cauet (Head Coach) n Murphy (Dunstables, Wat ford and Danes VC, Eng land), 1. Ferdie Whelan 12. Benny O’Regan (UC (Mu nster Thunder VC), 2. Sea D VC), 5. Niall Haverty (St. n Gorman (NUIG), 17. Fran Brigid’s Vocational School, cis Gallagher (NUIG), Loughrea)
Editorial and Squad Staff »» Publications: David Herlihy »» Head Coach: Laurent Cauet »» Senior Team Assistant Coach: Jeff King »» Junior Team Assistant Coach: Pawel Waszkiewicz »» Administrator: David Herlihy »» Fitness Coach: Richard Röcker »» Logistics Officer: Mark Campbell »» PRO: Marc Hand
Contact us »» E-mail: [email protected] »» Web: www.volleyballireland.com (VAI) »» Phone: +353 1 6707165 (VAI) »» Fax: +353 1 6707167 (VAI)
“Irish Men’s Volleyball Squads”
IRISH SENIORS LOSE TO CELTIC RIVALS The Irish Senior team’s recent rebuilding process took on its first major challenges as they played Northern Ireland on Saturday March 19th and then Scotland on Sunday 20th. Both oppositions have been preparing together for a longer time in comparison to the Irish, while also boasting a more caps and experience between them, in comparison to a younger Irish selection with only 5 players reappearing from the squad which travelled to Andorra last June. Northern Ireland got off to a great start against Ireland, taking a 5-0 lead and maintained this momentum with their middle players leading the scores to hold out for a 25-16 win in the 1st set. The 2nd set was a similar trend with Northern Ireland getting to 15-7 at one stage, spurring a determined reaction from the Irish in outscoring them for the remainder of the set. It was too little too late however as the hosts won 25-19 and took a comfortable 2-0 match lead. Much like the opening set, Northern Ireland again took a 5-0 lead in the 3rd
set and never eased off as they won out 25-16 and the match in straightsets. Although it was nowhere near as close as they came last year, the Irish to were able give the inexperienced players a run for the first time, some of whom had played in the U-20 match immediately beforehand. Against Scotland, the Irish were well off the pace of their opponents, containing a number of players in contention for the Great Britain 2012 Olympics squad. In only scoring 7 against the Scots in the 1st set, Ireland went all out for the remainder of the match, but Scotland kept them at bay and posed huge problems for the Irish with their jump-serving, despite Benny O’Regan’s admirable efforts in the pass.
Despite only scoring 15 and 12 in the 2nd and 3rd sets respectively, the Irish played some new and young faces for the first time, giving them a much-needed pinch of International volleyball and against a high standard.
March / April 2011 Issue 22 (Volume 2) olleyball Squads
Official Newsletter of the
Irish Mens V
Irish battle in Belfast reaps positives The new look Republic of Ireland Senior and Junior men’s volleyball squads were in action recently in the University of Ulster (Jordanstown), Belfast for the celebratory St. Patrick’s weekend International tournament. Although the Irish men’s teams didn’t come away with a winning result from any of their games, there were many positives to take as they look towards the Summer months ahead and further afield, with many young players involved right throughout the travelling party showing big credentials already for bigger things. It was also the squad’s first time in 10 years to send three of its teams together into competition, with its Youth team having also only started training at the end of January.
The squads have gone through a rigorous transitional and training period over the last 2 months in preparation for the event, with the Junior teams
Block
training in Loughrea, Finglas, Mallow and Dalkey, while the Senior team trained in Limerick for a weekend and notably with the Junior teams also for a session in March in Dalkey, which was also attended by a number of past squad members, both players and staff. At last year’s event in St. Mary’s College Naas, the Irish men’s teams didn’t win their matches against Northern Ireland, although it could be said that the Senior team left behind them what would have been a famous win after their 2-3 loss. With the teams much changed since then however, the aim for the Irish this year was to build experience and confidence for the younger members of each squad, as well as being exposed to a higher standard of volleyball whilst competing against it. This year’s event in Belfast, hosted by the NIVB and the Northern Ireland squads, also welcomed the Scottish Senior team, who were Ireland’s first opponents last June in Andorra during their CEV 2011 Championships Qualification Round, and who have also qualified for the Final Round this summer. The tournament also allowed the squads an opportunity to stay in Belfast for the weekend, helping to build professionalism amongst the teams and also the team spirit between the players.
IRISH YOUTH TEAM - Top Row (L - R): Richard Roc ker (Fitness Coach), Linc oln Borsatto (Technical (Davis College, Mallow), Advisor), 4. Aidan McDonn 7. Shane Quinn (St. Rap ell (St. Raphael’s College hael’s College, Loughre , Loughrea), 10. Darren a), 15. Anton Zhereshchin 5. (C) Caomhan Conagh Lynch (Fingal Community College an (St. Brigid’s Vocational ), 6. Shane Whelan (Coláist School, Loughrea), 20. Jos e Chathail Naofa, Dungarv ef Lumelay (St. Raphael’s an), College, Loughrea), Dav id Herlihy (Coach), Laurent Front Row (L - R): 12. Paw Cauet (Head Coach) el Nowakiewicz (Portlao ise College), 18. Paul Hol ohan (St. Raphael’s College McEvoy (Davis College, , Loughrea), 1. Patrick Halp Mallow), 11. Adam Finn in (St. Brigid’s Vocational egan (Davis College, Mal School, Loughrea), 2. Ste low), 16. Mark Whelan (Co phen láiste Chathail Naofa, Dun garvan), 17. Patryck Piet rzak (Davis College, Mal low)
The irish abroad Oisín McArdle »» Club: MTV 1881 Ingolstadt (GER) »» Domestic League: We are in the Bayernliga Süd, which is the 1st Division in Bavaria. Above that comes the Regionalliga, and then the crème-de-la-crème, the Bundesliga. There are thousands of teams competing in the hundreds of subdivisions that is Volleyball-Germany. »» How are your team’s training sessions structured?: 3 times weekly, each lasting two and a half hours. Training is very much fitness and strength-based, and done at a disciplined high-tempo, with the players applying themselves with a seriousness and commitment level similar to that of a World League final! »» What’s the difference between your league and the Irish leagues?: The general level of the league is definitely higher than that of the Irish Premier League. Because
Irish YOUTH TEAM PERFORMS PROUDLY Having lost disappointingly to the Northern Ireland team in the friendly match on the morning of Saturday March 19th, the Republic of Ireland U-17 team regrouped for their official match later in the day to produce a sterling performance against their counterparts. In setting a target of 12 points in each set, Coach David Herlihy ensured the players shook of the nerves and enjoy their International debuts by playing for each other as well as their friends and families courtside. And with this in mind, the Irish exploded into life, playing with passion, digging deep and in the end, getting to 17 points at the first time of asking; a dramatic turnaround from their set scores in the earlier friendly match. The 2nd set saw an even better performance from the Irish as, although Northern Ireland were in the lead from the start, the boys in green were snapping at their heels right throughout the set, with the aggressive attacks by Josef Lumelay pinning the opposition back on several occasions. An even
better points tally of 19 was reached in this set, and even at 0-2 down, there was now much confidence within the Irish camp of taking the 3rd set to put the hosts on edge.
It wasn’t to be however as Northern Ireland took a commanding lead at the start of the 3rd set and were in control. The Irish were being forced into tactical changes mid-way through in an attempt to swing the score around, and with that there was a spirited fight, especially after the Irish team’s last time-out together. Although Northern Ireland took the set 25-15 and the match 3-0, there was no disappointment within the Irish ranks, as it was a proud moment for Irish volleyball with the youngest crop of players all making their debuts heroically. Credit also to the Northern Ireland team for their performance and their preparation together since September 2010 under the fantastic guidance of Coach Chris Grant.
DVC), er’s Hill College, Naas and ), 9. Ion Commendant (Pip low Mal , lege Col vis (Da nal School, Kamil Zieba ford (St. Brigid’s Vocatio lc (Assistant Coach), 11. Loughrea), 16. Liam Bed Top Row (L - R): Piotr Szu Brigid’s Vocational School, IRISH JUNIOR TEAM (St. erty Hav l Nial 5. ), College, Mallow (Head Coach) 12. Luke Linehan (Davis England), Laurent Cauet 6. Barry Mangan (NUIG), , Watford and Danes VC, bles nsta (Du phy Mur n an), Mangan (NUIG), 7. Rya Chathail Naofa, Dungarv Loughrea), 17. (C) Sean Mike Bumster (Coláiste (Eurocampus Dublin), 2. ov Sav tin Mar 8. IG), (NU , Mallow), 1. Sean Gorman ie O’Sullivan (Davis College Front Row (L - R): 13. Jam a) hael’s College, Loughre 4. Martin Murray (St. Rap
Irish U-20 team fall short to Northern IRELAND
After a decent performance to their morning in their friendly match where all players got court time, albeit a 0-2 loss, the Irish U-20 team were hoping for a winning result in their official match against Northern Ireland. The teams have been close over the past 2 years, with no team recording a straight-sets victory at any stage. The Irish faced an up-hill struggle in earning a win however as they lost the 1st set, mainly due to a lack of aggression in attack at the net. The 2nd set was looking down too for the Irish at 13-21 down, but in never giving up and having nothing to lose, Coach Laurent Cauet took a risk by introducing lesser experienced play-
ers who managed to show they have something to bring to the team, in particular Jamie O’Sullivan who hit a serving hot-streak, and helped put the team back on track. The remarkable comeback was led also by strong wing attacks from Ion Comendant, and doing so, helped the Irish overturn the deficit into a remarkable 25-22 win to lift Irish hopes. The Irish continued their good momentum into the 3rd set, but it slowly came to a grind as Northern Ireland had time to seal their blocks for the Irish wing attacks, with little coming from the Irish at this stage through the middle. In attack, Northern Ireland’s Adam Hunter was back on court and his attacks proving a menace for the Irish in their block and defence, helping them to a 2-1 lead. In the 4th set, Ireland were running out of steam, with serves becoming too easy for the hosts, allowing them to take the set and the match on a 3-1 score line. In comparison to previous meetings, it was still a good performance from Ireland and significant progress is showing after their trip to Italy last January, and ultimately since the encounter between the sides in March 2010.
many kids have been playing since a very young age, there is a lot more funding in the game which allows for small communities to also have their own team that competes in an organised and competitive league without the fear of cancelled games or disbanded divisions.
»» What does it feel like to play in the Irish jersey?: The pride of putting on the Irish jersey cannot be beaten. We’ve been through a lot together since the re-emergence of the squads in 2009, but we were always together, not only as a squad, but as a band of brothers; that feeling of belonging within a team is something that just adds to the sheer honour of representing your country, a feeling that cannot be duplicated playing here in Germany, no matter at what level.
IRISH SENIOR TEAM (v Northern Ireland) - Top Row (L - R): David Herlihy (Tea m Manager), Piotr Wazsiew 6. Barry Mangan (NUIG), ski (Assistant Coach), Linc 14. Sean Mangan (NUIG), oln Borsatto (Technical 11. (C) Oisín McArdle (MT Advisor), V 1881 Ingolstadt, German 10. Niall Madden (Ulster y), 13. Andrew McCarth Elks VC, Northern Ireland), y (EuropWYD VC), 16. Tom 8 Ion Commendant (Pip McTigue (Garda VC), er Hill College, Naas and DVC), Richard Rocker (Fitn ess Coach) and Laurent Front Row (L - R): 7. Rya Cauet (Head Coach) n Murphy (Dunstables, Wat ford and Danes VC, Eng land), 1. Ferdie Whelan 12. Benny O’Regan (UC (Mu nster Thunder VC), 2. Sea D VC), 5. Niall Haverty (St. n Gorman (NUIG), 17. Fran Brigid’s Vocational School, cis Gallagher (NUIG), Loughrea)
Editorial and Squad Staff »» Publications: David Herlihy »» Head Coach: Laurent Cauet »» Senior Team Assistant Coach: Jeff King »» Junior Team Assistant Coach: Pawel Waszkiewicz »» Administrator: David Herlihy »» Fitness Coach: Richard Röcker »» Logistics Officer: Mark Campbell »» PRO: Marc Hand
Contact us »» E-mail: [email protected] »» Web: www.volleyballireland.com (VAI) »» Phone: +353 1 6707165 (VAI) »» Fax: +353 1 6707167 (VAI)
“Irish Men’s Volleyball Squads”
IRISH SENIORS LOSE TO CELTIC RIVALS The Irish Senior team’s recent rebuilding process took on its first major challenges as they played Northern Ireland on Saturday March 19th and then Scotland on Sunday 20th. Both oppositions have been preparing together for a longer time in comparison to the Irish, while also boasting a more caps and experience between them, in comparison to a younger Irish selection with only 5 players reappearing from the squad which travelled to Andorra last June. Northern Ireland got off to a great start against Ireland, taking a 5-0 lead and maintained this momentum with their middle players leading the scores to hold out for a 25-16 win in the 1st set. The 2nd set was a similar trend with Northern Ireland getting to 15-7 at one stage, spurring a determined reaction from the Irish in outscoring them for the remainder of the set. It was too little too late however as the hosts won 25-19 and took a comfortable 2-0 match lead. Much like the opening set, Northern Ireland again took a 5-0 lead in the 3rd
set and never eased off as they won out 25-16 and the match in straightsets. Although it was nowhere near as close as they came last year, the Irish to were able give the inexperienced players a run for the first time, some of whom had played in the U-20 match immediately beforehand. Against Scotland, the Irish were well off the pace of their opponents, containing a number of players in contention for the Great Britain 2012 Olympics squad. In only scoring 7 against the Scots in the 1st set, Ireland went all out for the remainder of the match, but Scotland kept them at bay and posed huge problems for the Irish with their jump-serving, despite Benny O’Regan’s admirable efforts in the pass.
Despite only scoring 15 and 12 in the 2nd and 3rd sets respectively, the Irish played some new and young faces for the first time, giving them a much-needed pinch of International volleyball and against a high standard.
