First match after a month of just training, we (number 8 in the ranking) had to play against the number 2, Zovoc D3. 
The second time we meet them this season, the first time we left with a 3-1 loss, and a player less who is still not back. We grew since that match, so we started positive and we were also excited about playing after a month. Next to this, we finally made our team picture because we were (almost) complete.
Vito was there to coach us and had Mirjam as his assistant, so we looked quite professional. This match we were also happy to welcome Ashley back in the field. The first set, we were starting with good energy and we had some nice punches, passes and blocks. Too bad they had 3 beasts in the field, they resisted that our attacks gave our desired results. Luckily our block was just as strong as theirs! But the good energy did not help us enough and we lost the first set with 16-25. It felt better than the scoreboard said.
So by not feeling defeated the first set, we went back into the field for the second set. We know we have some starting problems sometimes. After some points we found out how to get around the beasts. We distracted them with attackers screaming for the ball and then gave the ball towards another attacker. We kept the holes in the field closed en went for 
every ball. We had to play at our best, use all our tricks, making pirouettes and using the block while attacking. Eventually we won with 25-23.
The third set Vito was yelling too much to protect our ankles, the referee had to warn him for this. We thank him! The referee paid a lot of attention to those mistakes after that. We got a lot of points because they were over the line, in the net or stealing balls. It made them grumpy, we made those feelings grow by hitting hard and defending a lot and we won the third set. An exciting 26-24.
The fourth set we were a little bit too much convinced of ourselves, we started with a false serve. The pressure was too high for Manon. On both 
sides of the field everybody was working for life or death. Too bad they wanted to live a bit more than we did. When they brought the ball back with some lucky shots from the field next to us, we just watched and let it fall. Hui-wen was still working hard and made a point against a block which formed a roof above her, just magical. But we could not get out of this dip and lost the set with 19-25.
The fifth set was all or nothing. 2-2 felt like a 0-0 and a fresh start. Manon started again with a serve and made a series of 6 points. Which is a nice start in a set that only goes to 15 points! We worked hard and after 5 attempts Roely brought us to 14-10. Our last point was made by an exhausted Zovoc who could not get to the really easy high ball, so it landed on the floor. At 15-10 we celebrated a really nice victory!
Manon, Roely and Ashley D5
