Mixed results in first round of Scottish Cup

01 October  V  Jets ll   St Andrews University

Ladies V St Andrews University

The Scottish cup first round was the start of the volleyball season with both Dundee sides having difficulties in their quest to progress.   The girls were first up in Craigie High School against a strong St Andrews University side and had to draft in former player Nic McKenzie at the eleventh hour to field a team.  It was Sarah Driscoll, just recovered from a leg break in February, who was the star of the first set as she returned to top form with power and accuracy to help win the first set 25/12.

A change of line up for the students helped them back into the second set but the home side were always just ahead.  McKenzie and Driscoll continued to express power and with Hannah Lawrie and Lana Edgar controlling the St Andrews’ middle attack, Dundee held set points at 24/21.  Having fought hard and playing well to achieve this situation a loss of focus cost then Dundee girls as they fell apart on their receive of the students’ service, losing the set 24/26.

The third set saw every Dundee player score at least one point from their service and they took a 2/1 lead winning 25/22.  The students were not to be denied and their 12-man squad helped as they took a 15/12 lead in the fourth set.  As the home side started to tire Lucy Wishart held the defensive unit together and it was long rallies that dominated the set.  The energy-sapping rallies took their toll as the Dundee attack lost it’s effectiveness and St Andrews took the set 25/22 to force the final set showdown.

A run of points from 10/8 to 13/8 gave the students the advantage and again long rallies let the home side down as the University side took the set 15/9 for a 3/2 win.

 

Men V Edinburgh Jets ll

The men were also forced into changes to their side after the loss of Robbie Binnie and Christy McLaughlin from last year’s side.  Work, injuries and holiday further weakened the side and an unfamiliar side took the court against Edinburgh Jets ll in their first round tie.

Mark Donnachie and new signing Leo Maugeri were the main points of attack for the home side in the first set as they took a 10/5 lead.  Lewis Crockart scored a point with an ace service as Dundee cruised to a 25/15 win. The second set opened with a string of errors from the home side and they found themselves down 1/7. Dundee’s quick attack started to influence the game with Dave Bonnar and Petr Kolomanzic both scoring with hits and blocks.  The superior power was enough to close the gap and take the set 25/19 for a 2/0 lead.

A 12/5 lead for the home side with Donnachie, Crockart and Maugeri all scoring with power hits sapped the fight from the Jets side and their resistance was limited to one big scoring hit.  Dundee finished off with control, taking the set 25/16.