National Team volleyball by the numbers…
Very early on Saturday 18th March 2 planes took off from 2 Scottish cities carrying the Senior Men’s and Women’s National Teams to Belfast, where they were scheduled to play 6 matches against teams from Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.
In the groups there were 25 players, 5 members of the coaching staff, 2 team managers, 1 physiotherapist, and 1 very experienced referee.
Altogether the senior women played 3 matches and did not lose a set. The men won 3 matches for the loss of 2 sets.
In the 1st match against a select team from the Republic, the Scots women won the first 2 sets narrowly 23 and 23 but controlled most of the game to that point, out-powering their knowledgeable opponents. In their 1st match the Senior men also won 3-0 (28-26, 25-22, 25-23) in a tough encounter with the Irish All Stars.
Day 2 saw the Senior Women open against the Fireblades, one of the top club sides in the North of the Island, and were much more clinical, playing a more precise brand of volleyball taking the match 9,10 and 16. The senior men also won 3 – 0 (16, 24, 21) in the first of 2 official internationals against the host nation.
The tournament finished for the women with a game against the international
side of Northern Ireland and by now the Scots were in very good form and did not give their opponents an opportunity to come into the game winning by a thoroughly impressive 6, 10 and 7. Meanwhile the men played a roller-coaster of a 2nd international match against NI, eventually winning 3-2 (25-14, 22-25, 25-15, 20-25, 15-9).
For the men 4 players achieved their first senior cap, the women were also able to introduce 4 new caps to the side including 3 – 16 year olds, and 1 – 18 year old.
So it was well done to all involved in this very successful National Team trip. Congratulations and our thanks go to the Northern Irish Federation for organising an excellent event and roll on the next competition.