Two days after the girls finals, it was the turn of the boys to take centre stage in the Scottish Schools Cup finals. This fantastic event was revived after a 20 year gap last year, and has already witnessed some top quality play in determining the best school volleyball team in Scotland.
First on court were the U13 boys. Playing 3v3 on a small court, there is no room for error, but both finalists this year showed no sign of nerves in front of a large and enthusiastic crowd who were entertained with some top-quality play. Mearns Castle HS showed some good touches in phases of the game, and were worthy finalists. However the boys from Queensferry HS, products of the outstanding work being done there and through the City of Edinburgh club were just one step quicker, one move faster, and it was Queensferry who came out top in straight sets, their 2-0 (25-12; 15-14) victory seeing the trophy go east for the first time.
Undoubtedly the match of the finals series was the pairing of Kyle Academy and Marr College at U15 boys level. The teams put on a great display of power volleyball, with killer blocks, strong hitting and fantastic defence evident throughout. Marr College secured the first set 25-18, and were well placed to seal out the match before Kyle countered in the second with a 25-22 result taking the game into a deciding set. Marr College came out with all guns blazing, and sailed into a strong 11-3 lead. Kyle shuffled their pack, regrouped and found another level that supassed anything that had gone before, coming right back into the match. Nonethless, Marr served for the match at 14-13, but Kyle saved the point, and went on to take the set 16-14 for a dramatic 2-1 victory.
The last match of the finals was between Marr College and Mearns Castle HS at U18 level. The Marr team, essentially the same one that won the U15 title last season, showed good skill to take the first set 25-17, but were left chasing an early Mearns Castle advantage in the second which they could not overcome, Mearns taking the set by the same score. Visions of another come-from-behind victory flashed through the minds of the Marr coaching staff, but after trading points in the early phases, Marr were able to make a crucial breakthrough that overcame Mearns Castle’s resilence, securing a 15-13 result that took the senior cup back down the M77.
Scottish Schools Cup convenor Greg Coburn commented “The schools cup this year has been a fantastic advertisement for every good thing that goes on in PE departments all around the country. We’ve had a great response from all of the teams this year, the spirit and sporting play has been outstanding, and we are confident of an even larger entry next year on the back of this.
