The #SVLgameoftheweek featured two of the fastest growing junior programmes, going head-to-head in a tense game at Queensferry HS.
The pre-match spectical threatened to overshadow the featured match itself as City’s B squad took on Aberdeen’s B squad. It was an engaging encounter with the home side edging the match 2-1 (27-25, 23-25, 15-9.)
In the battle of the A teams, Aberdeen dominated the early stages with some powerful hitting from captain Shona Fraser to take them to 5-1. She then followed up with a run of four serves to maintain the 4 point advantage at 10-6.
The middle part of the set was dominated by some ridiculous scramble defence of arguably SVL Premier standard, as both teams battled to put a run of points together.
Neither team was able to achieve this until Edinburgh captain Sarah Kelly stepped up to the service line with her side down 17-20. Strong tactical serving combined with Ellie Stewart scoring on the outside dragged the home side from 3 down to 3 up. Now in control of the set, they saw it out 25-21.
Edinburgh Coach, Juliana Facanha made the tactical switch, following her run in the previous set, to start Sarah Kelly serving, they were soon 3-0 up. Strong serving was developing into the defining team of the match as Aberdeen struggled to side-out, finding themselves 6 points down at 6-12.
Some good distribution from setter Kirsty MacIver finding Shona Fraser in position 4 & 2, while bringing Middle Blocker’s Asia Purdie & Kirsty Manclark into the game proved to be a lethal combination as they brought it back within a point to 17-18.
The match went point for point with impressive side-out efficiency from both
Edinburgh & Aberdeen. The trading of points was halted when Rachel Ferguson stepped up with two aces to make it 23-20 to the home side.
We’d been here before in the 1st set, this time Coach Ross Allan used his final time-out to tell his girls to be brave and hit their way out of the situation…
And brave they were both from hitting zones and the service line fighting back to take the set 26-24.
Into a tie-break we went but Aberdeen could not replicate the strong hitting that served them so well in the 2nd set, going down to an early 1-6 defecit. The pressure was relentless from the Edinburgh service line with Emma Waldie’s run of 6 serves taking the home side to a 13-3 lead. Aberdeen could not repeat the heroic efforts of the 2nd set going down 5-15.
The win puts Edinburgh 1 point ahead of Aberdeen in the table, but Edinburgh may still need a victory over champions elect Marr College in the final day of the season to secure the runners-up spot.
MVP – Sarah Kelly, City of Edinburgh
City of Edinburgh 2-1 Aberdeen Grammar (25-21, 24-26, 15-5)
Next #SVLmatchoftheweek sees Bon Accord travel to Edinburgh Jets in the Men’s SVL Premier.
