The Shelde Tournament Results 
Double Victory for Ragazzi
The women’s tournament kicked off with a match between North Lanarkshire rivals NLVC and Lenzie. Coaches Tom Rooney and Dave McEwan are developing their Clubs and introducing some excellent young players. The action was sharp, the exchanges interestingly tough, and the competition close until NLVC emerged as winners.
Laura McReady received the MVP Award
from John Galloway
Next match saw hosts Su Ragazzi play
NLVC. Su Ragazzi has been hampered in their preparation in the preceding week
by a bout of the dreaded ‘Summer Cold’ which has swept through the Club and
removed power hitter Klaudia Weiczoric from the Tournament roster.
First two sets the Su Ragazzi team were dominant. Set three NLVC reversed this and won comfortably. Set four, Lindsay Coburn and Laura McReady steadied the ship and Su Ragazzi claimed victory. This match saw the successful introduction of new outside hitter Susan Barr to the Su Ragazzi ranks, and saw Clair McGee again performing well in her new position as Middle Blocker.
Third match was the Suettes playing Dave McEwan’s Lenzie. Laura McReady continued her top form, and Captain Lynn Edwards ran a tight offence which Lenzie struggled to cope with. Lenzie served well and pushed primary passer Amanda McReady hard, while emerging setter Emma Clarkston continued her steady improvement, and again demonstrated her versatility. The Suettes won the match three zero and therefore the Schelde Tournament.
In the men’s event the first match was an interesting match
up between the Division I side Jets, and the Division III South Ayrshire boys.
For SA this was a fantastic opportunity to measure themselves against a top
side, for the Jets it was an opportunity to look at some new players, and emerge
from the Summer break.
The match was a contrast of style, of experience, of
technical ability, but there was no contrast between the competitive attitude of
the teams. Both wanted to win. Both were prepared to work their socks off for
this prize. Both threw themselves about the court to defend their court – it
was a hugely enjoyable encounter which Jets won 3 – 0 and from which South
Ayrshire took great heart.
Alistair Galloway received his MVP Award
from John Galloway
Match 2 was hosts City of Glasgow
Ragazzi playing South Ayrshire. The SA boys had relaxed between matches, has
regrouped, had considered their tactics, had got themselves back ‘up’ for the
encounter. They couldn’t really prepare for the speed of the link between
setter Steve Todd and Middle Blocker Brian O’Neil. The first zero time ‘B
quick’ left them standing on the floor watching the ball bounce…..but they
rallied and served tough.
Ali Galloway was the dominant hitter, Todd was fast, Kevin
Curran accepted the role of primary passer, and the patterns of offence which
were weaved were complex and too much for the inexperienced Ayrshire side. The
Glasgow boys won three zero, but the handshakes and smiles at the end endorsed
the view that it had been a hugely enjoyable exercise for all concerned.
The third match was the hosts V Jets. It was a match up
between Ali Galloway and Julien Corsini for top player. It was high, it was
fast, and there were several thundering blocks in the early exchanges. However,
the match turned when Gordon McGilivrey threw himself out of the sideline of the
court, pursuing a ball which had flown off a Ragazzi arm. It seemed a lost
cause and point, till Gordon dived and retrieved it with a spectacular move. Su
Ragazzi won the rally and the set on the back of the pick up, and there was
great satisfaction all around.
Jet 2 Jets rallied and took a convincing lead, but the Su
boys worked it back a point at a time with middle blocker Dimitros Kozipoulos
hitting a purple patch from the service box, and Colin Hamilton slotting into
the unit with ease. The Su boys won that set, and then won the third, to take
the title.
This was a good day for Su Ragazzi Volleyball Club.
