The Su Ragazzi player production line continues

Su Ragazzi VC has a long and proud tradition of producing top quality volleyball players. Graduates from the Su Ragazzi training school enhance the Scottish and English National Leagues, the Scottish National Team Programmes, and the Great Britain Olympic Programme. In season 2008 / 09 the success story continued with two very bright young volleyballers:

Andrew McGregor has come a long way in 18 months. He started playing volleyball at Carluke during his lunch hour and very quickly established himself as a capable performer who enjoyed the game of volleyball. Within 6 months, at the age of 13, Andrew started to train with Su Ragazzi and mingled with GB players such as Stuart McGrenary, Alistair Galloway and Johnny Herley. The Experience and support received has been invaluable as he has adapted to the training environment with a confident ease. Whilst all this was happening Andrew was winning Most Valuable Player at the South Lanarkshire Mini Leagues, being selected for the UKSG squad having only just turned 14 and inspiring the other young players around about him Carluke.

The start of the new volleyball season has seen Andrew start every 2nd division match for Su Ragazzi this season and with this valuable experience there is no question that Andrew can start to push for even greater rewards in the coming years. Indeed his ability has been recognised and acknowledged with his involvement in the Young Senior Programme and the Fast Track Programmes which both filter talented youngsters into the National Squad.  Andrew has an excellent attitude to training and competing and has a big future ahead of him.

Emma Clarkson, “The baby Setter” has been a revelation at Su Ragazzi this season as she has brought her confident and fun manner into the training environment. Emma has played the game of Volleyball for 18 months after getting attracted to the game at lunchtime sessions in Carluke High School and was duly selected for the UKSG Squad 2007.

Emma has fitted in brilliantly to the training environment at Su Ragazzi and received a tremendous amount of support from the playing and coaching staff and this has seen a once quiet young lady really come out of her shell!

The future is definitely bright for the Baby Setter as at 15 years of age Emma has already competed in the 1st division and won her first medal, being part of the Fabulous Suette squad which won the 2007 Top Teams Cup. Indeed Emma wasn’t slow to let Mr Coburn know that she had one more medal than him!!! Emma is also a member of the Fast Track Training group which supports the Women’s National Team Programme. Emma has a big future ahead of her and as the speed of her sets increases so will the opportunities that are offered to her.