Saturday 19th February 2011
Mens’ Division l
It was a long and frustrating day at Craigie High School last Saturday for Dundee in the
Schelde National Leagues with three games yielding a variety of performances and results.
The top game in mens Division l saw table toppers Kilmarnock Blaze arrive with a tall side
mixed with youngsters and experienced hands. It was the experienced players who
controlled the first set with Dundee relying heavily on Niall Collin. His range of shots was
causing the visitors problems and with Graeme Spowart only able to use Iain Taylor and
Freddie Fairbairn sparingly Killie took a clear 21/18 lead. The set looked lost but Callum
Moir scored with a shot of the block and Taylor then closed the gap with a fine service. At
23/23 Killie scored a side-out point then forced an error to take the set 25/23.
It was more of the same as both sides upped the power level and the net game became a
war of attrition! Neither side was able to take a lead until 19/19 when the experience of
Stuart Edgar helped lift the visitors to a 22/19 lead. They held on to it to take the set
25/22. Back came Collin to his best and he produced several huge hits that were
unstoppable! One hit cannoned across the face of the block and struck the Killie defender
on the chest before he had time to move. The lead see-sawed back and forth and with
George Fortman and Iain Taylor making some great defence, at last the home side had a
slender lead. Killie came back and levelled at 23/23, Dundee went up 25/24 and at last
their defence let them down as Collin scored a monster hit to secure the set 26/24.
The fourth set was hit for hit and point for point as both sets of players gave no quarter.
The taller Killie side were scoring points with their block but Dundee responded with points
from service and counter-attacks. 20/19 to Killie, 22/21 to Dundee, 23/22 to Killie, 24/23
to Dundee, 25/24 to Killie and eventually the Ayrshire side stole the set and match 28/26
to remain at the top of the table and keep Dundee in 7th place.
Mens’ Division lll
The day started with a fine display from Dundee ll in Division lll with visitors, Lenzie,
providing the opposition. It was level in the first set with Jan Weiling and Mike Coward
keeping Dundee just ahead but a run of points from the George Welsh service gave the set
to Dundee 25/29. Lenzie proved to be a stuffy side and they came back strong but lost
their composure too often and Dundee took the second set 25/22. A switch of rotation
gave different match-ups and with Rad Marinov and Mike Coward in unstoppable form and
Doug Crockart pinning the visitors service receive unit, Dundee took the third set with ease
25/16. The home side had all the momentum and they were able to switch their service
tactics to keep control. Jan Weiling finally scoring a series of net blocks and with Oz Dowie
hitting 3 quick winners and George Welsh again scoring a service ace, Dundee took the
fourth set 25/15.
Another switch in positions for the home side allowed Marinov to play as a middle hitter
with immediate success as he helped open up a 6/2 lead. Lenzie had been unable to influence
the game and they finally put a run of 3 points together but the home side had too many
scoring options and took the final set 16/14 to complete the nap hand.
Ladies Division ll
Lenzie also provided the opposition in the Ladies Division ll game and played their usual
aggressive and competitive style of volleyball. Their service dominated the first set and
only the Leigh Watson and Petra Sadilkova combination allowed any consistent scoring
attacks. Lenzie won the set 25/20. Dundee had Shelly Paterson playing in an unfamiliar role
as a hitter and she started to influence the game. She helped to balance the court and
when Lucy Wishart was added to the team their control of the ball was better. Jen
Henderson acme on to serve the winning service as Dundee took the second set 25/21.
Lenzie’s dogged determination helped them back into the game as they started to slow down
Paterson and Sadilkova but their attack had enough variety to stay ahead. Nik McWilliam
and Nic McKenzie took the pressure off the wide attackers with some smart hits tin the
middle of the court. Lenzie again used their service to gain the upper hand and took a 2/1
lead winning 25/23. Dundee stormed back and an injury forced Jess Meek into action and
she helped the team to a fantastic 28/26 win to tie the game.
Dundee had control of the game from the service line. First, Sadilkova and then, Nic
McKenzie gave them an 8/4 lead at the change of ends. Lenzie tried to come back again but
as they tired the home defence controlled the game and they won the set and game 15/11 to
lift then up to 5th.
Fixtures
All three sides travel to Edinburgh tomorrow with the Division l mens side and the Ladies
taking on City of Edinburgh and Dundee ll taking on Grassmarket Jets in Division lll