The semi finals of the play off series

The Play Off series is different for Su Ragazzi Volleyball Club in season 2009/10; we only have to accommodate one team. For the first time in the history of the play off series the men of City of Glasgow Ragazzi failed to reach the last stages of the Championship race. So it fell onto the Suettes to continue to carry the flag for the Club. Two matches against old rivals Troon. Two opportunities to demonstrate the level of performance expected from Su Ragazzi teams. Two chances to progress and keep the Championship hopes alive: And ultimately two chances squandered!

Game one on Saturday 20th March was at Prestwick. Troon won 3 to 1. Set one was an easy win for Troon. Set two was an easy win for Su Ragazzi. Neither of the sets really reflected the quality or the ability of the two teams. Sets three and four were untidy, ebbed and flowed, demonstrated good performances and runs of stupid points conceded, and Troon were always in front.

There were some harsh discussions amongst the Ragazzi group after the match was finished, and the bandwagon rolled on to Sunday.

March 21st, Coltness High School. Game two in the series, Troon raced onto a two sets to love lead without really being stretched. Set three was better for the home side, set four was the best of the series for both sides, with some tremendous rallies and the stage was set for a fifth set thriller; except Troon dominated the fifth set and were never trailing and they ran out a 15 to 12 winner. From their perspective job done. Next!

The Coltness match as better than the Prestwick match. The Coltness match had some outstanding performances: Laura McReady for the home side, and Jenny Ellis for Troon. The craft of Ragazzi`s Alex Dickenson versus the power of Troon`s Lindsay Bunten; the guile of Elaine Krawczyk versus the technical quality of Lynne Edwards: a great advert for Scottish volleyball, and a reality check for the Su Ragazzi girls.

Some of the points raised at post match discussions amongst the home team players need to stay private, but there is a reality here: You get out of sport what you put in. Troon worked harder at both their match performance and the practice schedule which lead up to it, and won. Su Ragazzi have a number of players who simply do not understand that simple reality!

But it is not as if you have not been told!