Troon volleyball side take national title

Mar 25 2011 by Stuart Wilson, Ayrshire Post (main ed)

TROON volleyball club picked up its third national trophy of the season on Sunday when the Troon Belmont won the Scottish under 16 junior national league play offs at Wishaw Sports Centre.

First up against Troon Belmont in the semi final was Marr College.

The Troon Belmont side dominated the first set completely as their tough serving and expansive style of play was just too much for the Marr boys and the first set was taken at a canter by 25-12.

The second set saw Marr come out fighting and they put up some stern defence before losing the set 25-17 and with it the match.

The final was a very similar affair as the Ayrshire side took on North Lanarkshire who had defeated City of Edinburgh to reach the last stage.

The strong serving continued and with Shanks passing extremely well, Russell continued to provide excellent balls to his hitters.

McKee, Briggs and Morrison used Russell's deliveries incredibly well to hit winners at will and with Lapsley weighing in with big blocks and with fine back up from Halliday and Duffy, Troon took the game in straight sets 25-11, 25-16.

This was a simply outstanding display of volleyball of which the local boys should be extremely proud.

This week some of the same players will be playing for Belmont Academy in the Scottish Schools Cup final at Coatbridge on Thursday.

Meanwhile the senior game builds towards its climax on Saturday when Troon Women host Edinburgh Jets in the Scottish League semi final play offs first leg at Belmont Academy with a match start of 10.30am.

With Hazel Gow still out injured the Troon squad will be Lyall, E and J Krawczyk, J Jones, Ramage, Pell, Clayton, McCall, Grant, Wheatley, Robertson and Bunten.