The U16 League season came to a dramtic close at the weekend.
Lorn VC, in their first ever junior season were the hosts and opposition for City of Edinburgh in their final match to secure an undefeated season and the league title. Despite some great defence from the Oban boys, City took a 3-0 victory and with it the League title for a fourth consecutive season.
Another first time entrant into the Junior League, Beacon VC put on a couple of great performances at NUVOC winning both matches including a 2-1 victory over Cavalry Park NUVOC, although the set gained was enough for the hosts to hold onto their 2nd seed place for the U16 Scottish Cup.
James Gillespie’s NUVOC continue to show signs of rapid development and finished their debut season off in style as they secured a top four spot.
In the girls competition, South Ayrshire secured two wins to finish the season on a real positive and good preparation for next season. City of Edinburgh B were at one stage the only team in the leagues without a win, but have shown real determination to improve and edged out Aberdeen Grammar C, in the battle of the new entries, to take 7th spot in the table.
Aberdeen Grammar B edged NUVOC in a very tight game, the 2nd game to go the full distance between the teams this season. The result ensured that Aberdeen Grammar finished with two teams in the top four, a great achievement for the club.
The most dramatic action of the weekend was reserved at Stewarton Sports Centre, where Marr College, City of Edinburgh and Aberdeen Grammar could all still take home the title at the end of the day.
After two very high quality games of volleyball ended with the same outcome, narrow 0-3 losses for Aberdeen, we were left with a straight shoot out between Marr College and City of Edinburgh with both tied on points at the top of the league table.
City of Edinburgh took the first set, but Marr College came back in the 2nd and
it looked to be going to a decider before City saved two sets points followed by another two to tkae the match and with it their first U16 title since 2012.
Sport can be harsh and it was one of those games where neither team deserved to lose but it was a great advert for Junior Volleyball with a great set of support for both teams from start to finish.
It was a special day for City of Edinburgh, ‘Sunday was a day of celebrations but behind the league titles are hours and weeks and months and years of dedicated training by the athletes and parents, making financial sacrifices and providing support through the ups and downs alongside the team managers organising the team programmes behind the scenes and committed and passionate coaches who willingly give their time and believe in their athletes.’ Ian Brownlee, Head of Junior Academy, City of Edinburgh VC.
Thank you SVA Lifetime Member Dave Munro & SVA Regional Development Officer Andrew Fleming for presenting the trophies.
The season is not finished there yet though, the U16 Scottish Cup Tournament takes place at the Lynch Sports Centre, Dundee. Come along and support all of our U16 teams as they try stake a claim for one of the two spots in the Cup final at the SVA Cup Finals Weekend in April.