WITH one game to go, Solent's men are hopeful of avoiding the drop in the National Volleyball League Division 2.

Although they lost their penultimate game 3-1 to Thames Valley in Reading, they added another valuable set to their score which may just keep them up.

Finding himself without four outside hitters, Solent coach Matt Cordrey-Gale moved captain Simon Trueick to the role. But Solent started lethargically, inviting Thames to claim the first set 25-17. Cordrey-Gale came on for James Kemp but the Berkshire outfit just won a more competitive second set 27-25.

Solent carried that spirit into the third set but they were still giving up some easy points and, at 17-15 down, Kemp came back on as setter.

Using his extra height in the block, Kemp and young middle player Adam Phillips reeled off the next three points and, with some key defence from Ian Coombs, Solent won 25-20.

However, a string of passing errors triggered their 25-18 demise in set four as Thames seized overall victory.