Troon volleyball club enjoy a glory season

May 20 2011 by Mike WIlson, Ayrshire Post (main ed)

TROON Volleyball Club are celebrating after a busy weekend saw three teams in national finals at Wishaw Sports Centre.

Both ladies teams won, two players received first cap awards while one received second in player of the year honours.

First off were Troon two women who beat Orkney 3-0 in the plate. With Alison Duncan, Jenny Ellis, Alyson Jones and Katie Barbour ably fed by setters Natalie Caldwell and Eilidh Cruse, Troon were too powerful.

Mechelle Hunter, Kayleigh Flynn and Jill Tomlison did fine work too as the Troon girls added this trophy to their recent Scottish Second Division title success.

Troon men lost 3-0 to league champions Glasgow Mets in the Thistle Bowl.

They took full advantage of errors from Mets while Grant Gwynne set accurately to allow outside hitters Steven Cruse and Graeme Houston to score.

Captain Gordon Cree and Daryl McFarlane provided a strong presence at the net. Mets tried to pick on young Scott Wilson in the pass, but he would not be broken.

But Troon couldn’t keep their performance going despite good defence from George McConnachie.

Sunday began with junior national league finals. In the boys under 19 contest, Marr College lost 2-1 to City of Edinburgh. Grant Gwynne took MVP honours.

This was followed by the presentation for first caps with Jennifer Krawczyk and Jennifer Jones receiving their awards.

In an outstanding cup final, Troon ladies beat City of Edinburgh 3-2, retaining the trophy for a fourth year running.

Youngster Claire Ramage belied her age but Troon couldn't find their rhythm and lost the first set. Troon raced back in the second, showing they are unstoppable at the net, undoubtedly the best attacking side in Scotland at the moment. Strong serving from Hazel Gow, clever play from Caroline Clayton, fine blocking by Wheatley, blistering hits from Linsey Bunten and Sarah Robertson's amazing height and power took the set away from Edinburgh.

In the third set, Troon staged a superb comeback. Amazing defence from Gillian Lyall and Jennifer Krawczyk, along with a timely block from Steph McCall and steady game from Jenny Jones saw Troon creep all the way to set point winning it 26-24.

Edinburgh took the fourth set but Troon reverted to their most experienced players for the start of the tie break set with Clayton returning to the fray.

Edinburgh went 11-9 up but Troon clawed back and earned the first match point but let it slip. Troon won back the serve and the match point at 15-14. On what proved to be the winning 16th point, the defence got it up, Krawczyk set it to Bunten, before she had even hit the ball the crowd were up and Bunten powered it away to seal the match.

The fans were repaid with a brilliant match and perhaps even more of a spectacle with coach Vince Krawczyk's celebrations.

In an excellent team performance, Sarah Robertson, who began her national league career at Troon but is now moving to university in the USA, was outstanding.

Elaine Krawczyk received second place in the player of the year awards.

Troon Volleyball Club have finished the season with five national trophies, four personal awards and all the senior and junior girls at one time capped for Scotland. A fantastic achievement for a club where all the players hail from a 15 mile radius.

The beach season is about to begin with Troon hosting junior beach on June 4 and a senior tournament on June 18.