Saturday February 27th: the season`s last home matches

The volleyball season starts in September and at that time players and teams are full of hope. Hope that they will play well, hope that they will be successful, hope that they will win matches and challenge for championships; this season the Su Ragazzi teams waited until the last home ties to turn hope into reality.

The visitors for the day were Jets Volleyball Club. The rivalry between the two Clubs goes back many years. The spirit demonstrated by all involved in the competitive encounters on February 27th was fabulous. The players got on with their business, the match officials demonstrated knowledge and understanding of both the rules and etiquette of the game, the competition was fierce and the sport of volleyball won.

Match one was Su Ragazzi II V Polonia Jets. In the first half of the season encounter Polonia had deservedly won 3 : 2 - this time round the home side triumphed 5 : 0. The score does not reflect the quality of the play from the visitors, the scoreline does not reveal the first set injury to a key Middle Blocker for the Jets, the scoreline does not reflect the quality of the Jets` team play, or the smile they wore for the competition. However the scoreline does reflect the determination of the home side. Stuart Haddow and Kevin Curran were outstanding. Bobby Jackson was a rock in defence and a clever blocker. Radek Kleszewski in only his second match for the home side was a key figure in the win; all in all a great performance and a great win.

Match two was the Fabulous Suettes V the Jets ladies first team. It was the best match of the day. The 3 : 0 scoreline does not flatter the home side, they were worthy of it, but it does not reflect on the huge contribution made by the Jets team. The rallies were fierce, the serving systematically tough, there were towering blocks and scrambled defence, there were great hits smashed onto the floor, and great pickups at the edge of control - it was a fantastic match.  At the end of it we jumped about for a bit celebrating the performance and the win. Martyn Johnstone the Jets Coach wrapped his players in a meeting for a while reviewing the encounter; sport is about contrasting fortunes, but it’s also about excellence – and in this match it was demonstrated by both sides.

Match three was the City of Glasgow Ragazzi side versus Jets men I. They were late, but we waited. They were tough, we were tougher. They were good, we were better, and the home side triumphed three sets to nil. Again the play from both sides was good, but Steve Todd had arguably his best match of the season and punched holes through the Jets defence all day. Wearing the Captains armband in the absence of Ali Galloway, Todd demonstrated controlled aggression, and leadership. He was ably supported by Stewart McGrenary playing in his preferred off-setter slot. Cammy Galloway demonstrated that he is returning to the sort of form which made him a dominant passer last season, and Andy McGregor had probably his best game of the season; the home side were rampant in their three zero demolition of a fighting Jets side.

Appointed Official Sam Torrence helped the match be the success it was. He was calm in the face of the competition, had a sensible touch in the way he handled the players, very clear in his decision making, and was always in control of the encounter.

All in all a great day for the home Club where the standards which were demonstrated were those which had been hoped for in September; isn`t it just a shame it all happened at the end of the season!

For only the second time in the season all three Su Ragazzi teams won their matches. And for the first time in a long period of time, all three teams won without dropping a single set. Congratulations to all involved.