A very tough day for the teams from the North East.

On Saturday 7th October 3 of the Su Ragazzi VC teams took the long drive north to play SVL matches against Dundee, and Volleyball Aberdeen.

First up were the Fabulous Suettes who began their journey while it was still dark, and emerged victorious from a bruising encounter with Connie Wisenfelder’s improving side. Both teams battered lumps out of the ball with devastating serves and power hits.

The first set was nip-and-tuck with both sides recording runs of points before the visitors closed it out 25-20. Set 2 the Suettes established a healthy lead early on and made the mistake of relaxing. The home side took full advantage of this lapse in concentration and ‘stole’ the set 26-24. Set 3 the Aberdeen girls raced into a significant lead (14-7) and looked like a team with a purpose until the Suettes woke up, fought back, and captured the set 25-22. This really was terrific stuff! Set 4 the Fabulous Suettes dominated the exchanges from the start of the set to the 25-17 finish. The rallies were still very competitive, but the visitors simply had too much, and thoroughly deserved the win.

A key feature of the encounters was the 15 kill block the Glasgow side scored, and they were required to off-set the effect of the 10 service aces the visitors recorded.

At the end of the match, in a very nice demonstration of sporting camaraderie, both teams got together to sing happy birthday to Su Ragazzi’s Kirsty McLean, and share in her chocolate cake.

Meanwhile in the day’s second encounter, Captain Gordie McGilivray took the boys of Su Ragazzi II to Craigie High School to play against Dundee Volleyball Club. The game started, Su II didn’t, and the Dundee troops took the first set. The visitors could have felt a sense if tension, could have been worried by the scoreline, but instead they chose to focus their attention, control the ball better, and emerge with a 3 sets to 1 win.

The day’s third encounter saw the City of Glasgow Ragazzi play the men of Volleyball Aberdeen in what was surely the day’s top match, full of power, speed and smarts!

Set 1 the visitors came out of the traps with a clear purpose. With Setter Marc McLaughlin running the show, and middle attacker William Miller taking full advantage of the gaps that Marc was producing in the home side's block the 25-21 scoreline was fully justified.

Set 2 the Ragazzi passing unit tightened up the work they were doing, with Libero Stuart Mackenzie taking charge and Power Hitter Eddie Gorecki scoring consistently, they used their dominance to record a 25-18 win.

Set 3 the Aberdeen players stuck to their guns and pounded the visitors with power serves and hits, but the visitors matched the home side's efforts. The players on both sides demonstrated commitment, determination and lots of talent, but it was the Ragazzi boys who won the set 25-19 and with it the match 3 sets to zero.

This was a very tough day for the teams from the North East, but another great day for Su Ragazzi Volleyball Club