Despite inclement weather conditions over the two day Scottish Open 
Volleyball Tournament, the seven hundred plus players are to be congratulated for entering into the spirit of the tournament by having a great deal of fun coupled with some really good volleyball.
The international flavour was provided by the two female teams from the Faroe Islands and two men’s teams from Belgium with all four teams competing in the top leagues for their respective genders. Scottish international players were also on show playing for different teams brought together for the weekend.
The seven different levels of competition for men, women and mixed teams featured a number of teams who went the “extra mile” by appearing in a variety of fancy dress costumes, including the lasses from the Faroes. The “fly boys” from RAF Lossiemouth had two teams competing resplendant in super heroes and “118” costumes. Many of the 116 teams were returners who are now “regulars” including the Dust men’s team from Overpelt Volleyball Club from Leuven, Belgium. Of course there were a number of newcomer teams who enjoyed the weekend, vowing to return next year.
The most popular part of the competition was once again the three mixed divisions which accounted for well over half of the total entry.
The Saturday competition started with all teams enthusiastically taking to the 38 North Inch courts and although the forecast rain did arrive it wasn’t as heavy as predicted and coupled with the fact that there was little wind, made little difference to teams’ performances. Saturday’s results were fed into the competition computers which divided the Sunday fixtures into the teams which qualified for the trophy with the remainder taking part in a consolation competition.
In men’s division one it was ex-Dundee University men “The Greatest Showmen” who defeated Aberdeen’s Kamikaze Seaton to lift the 2019 trophy.
The women’s division one trophy did head to Aberdeen with team “Red Hot Silly Peppers” beating Livingston based “Yes Serve” into second place, both teams finishing on the samee points but with the Peppers pipping their rivals having won one more set. In men’s division two it was Falkirk based “Team Alpha Male” who scraped through against Colin McGinley’s Glenrothes based “Team Fife by two sets to one.
Men’s division three saw Cumbernauld’s “Clackers” beat Edinburgh’s “Flying
Spikers.” In mixed division one it was two Edinburgh sides who battled it out for the honours with “Are We There Jets” winning through against Edinburgh University’s “Unicorns.”
The mixed division two final saw an Edinburgh v Glasgow final with Glasgow’s “Beast From The East” winning against “Vicious & Delicious.”
It was an all England duel for mixed division three with “Volleygang Accrington” lifting the trophy against “Tynedale Reivers.”
The small local volunteer organising committee are to be congratulated for their commitment and effort in, once again, delivering a superb weekend of volleyball despite the inclement weather.
This Saturday, 1st June, sees International Indoor Volleyball come to Perth as Perth College hosts Scotland Men against England Men with the first ball served scheduled for 5 pm. Get along to support a young Scottish side against the “Auld Enemy.”