This week’s feature match saw both of the undefeated teams in the women’s SVL Premier meet head to head at Queensferry HS.
With both national cups and the SVL premier title currently held between the two teams it was always going to be a game of high intensity.
The pre-match build up focused upon the battle between the hitting weight of the home side vs the strong passing unit of SU.
It was the home team that settled into the packed out venue the quickest taking a 12-7 lead, forcing Coach Vince Krawczyk into his first time out of the match. His words seemed to have an effect as SU scrambled back to 20-21 led by some effective outside hitting from McReady.
After a tactical time out from City coach Mel Coutts, Juliana Facanha scored a couple of points for the home side to give them set point at 24-22.
The set looked over with what the crowd thought was a kill block from Facanha but the talismanic McReady managed to get her Big Toe to the ball to keep it off the floor and SU in the set.
This was followed up with a block-out from McLean to tie the scores at 24-24. With all the momentum with he away side the ball was over passed but Barton just missed the court and what looked like would be set point for SU was now for City. The home side took full advantage of the gift to take the 1st set 26-24.
SU Ragazzi struggled to let go of the disappointment of the previous set, finding
themselves 9-15 before SU called Lynne Beattie into set as they slowly worked back into the set at 19-22. Good distribution from setter Jo Morgan to Reid and Thom clinched the second set. 25-21
City of Edinburgh again took a large lead early on in the set 16-6, with a run of seven serves from MVP Juliana Facanha. SU Ragazzi again managed to fight back to 21-24 but it wasn’t enough, the match closed out by City in straight sets.
But for the slow starts in each set from SU, it could certainly have been a different match!
The result sees City of Edinburgh head top of the SVL Premier after four rounds of fixtures.
City of Edinburgh 3-0 SU Ragazzi (26-24, 25-21, 25-21)
Next Week’s #SVLsaturday feature match sees South Ayrshire host Glasgow Mets in the men’s SVL Premier.