Scotland all but guarenteed themselves a medal at the CEV U19 Women’s Volleyball European Championship Small Countries Division finals at Edinburgh University Pleasance with a heroic 29-27 26-24 25-17 win over the Faroes.
The foundations of the victory were built in a remarkable first set when Scotland looked down and out and trailed by nine points 23-14.
Scotland won it 29-27 after the Faroes had saved three set points and had one of their own.
The hosts trailed 13-22 when coach Vince Krawczyk brought on Louise Agius and it turned the set in Scotland’s favour.
Some steady serving from Agius took the Scots from 14-23 to lead 24-23 and forcing Faroes’ head coach Romica Oster into his first time-outs.
Rachel Morrison came up with four points in a row for Scotland on the outside to bring up the first set point but the reliable Agius then served long to let the Faroes back in.
Two successive communication errors – both involving Jennifer Lee – handed the
Faroes their own set point to lead 26-25 but Lee showed great strength of character to then come up with the next two points for Scotland and give them their third set point.
As tensions built, Louise and Hannah served long as the scores were tied again at 27-27 but Scotland held their nerve and took the set when Anna Hansen’s hit was long.
The Faroes were understandably deflated at the start of the second set as Scotland quickly built an 8-3 lead at the first technical time-out.
They held their five-point advantage by the next technical team-out, Paisley taking it to 16-11 with a hit through the middle.
Scotland led 21-15 but the Faroes then hit back with six unanswered points to level the match with some strong serving from Petra Hansen.
A great reach by Morrison took Scotland to 24-22 but the Faroes saved two set points before the Scottish block held up on the third set point as the set was won 26-24.
Scotland kept their focus in the third set, leading 8-3 at the first technical time-out on a service ace from Morrison.
Shona Fraser produced successive service aces later in the set to take it to 15-7 and the hosts did not let it slip, clinching victory on their second match point when Sarah Johansen was long with her service.
