2008 Results

WORLD CLASS TOURNAMENT BOOST TO PERTH

FRIDAY
Bill Eddington’s U.S.A. Athletes International team certainly lived up to their potential in a thrilling weekend’s volleyball at Bell’s Sports Centre as the 23rd Scottish Open Volleyball Tournament attracted a total of 111 teams to the Fair City of Perth.

As well as the Americans competing in the divisions of honour indoors there were teams from Belgium, Poland, Italy and Russia competing outdoors in the other divisions which meant a truly continental competition in unusually sunny Scotland where the main problems were sun and dust rather than the usual rain and mud!

Ceilidh
The festival atmosphere commenced with the traditional ‘Welcome Ceilidh’ on the Friday evening with sets and reels going into the wee small hours as locals and guests danced the hours away.
Sponsor:

SATURDAY
Saturday morning and the competition commenced with everyone enthusiastically believing that they could do well enough to lift a trophy for their side after the conclusion of play on Sunday afternoon. A number of teams were in “fancy dress” with witches, cats and medics playing volleyball in weird and wonderful costumes.

Indoors in the division of honour section one the USA Athletes men’s side were in action against Team Fife (25-22; 25-21), Rucanor Jets (22-25, 25-17, 15-13) and the Scottish Lions (25-21, 25-22) to finish top or their section and qualify for Sunday’s semi- finals. They were joined by Rucanor Jets who had defeated Team Fife (25-22’ 26-24) and Scottish Lions (25-15, 25-22).

Men’s division of honour section two.
Men’s division of honour section two saw Scotland squad team Caledonia finish on top beating Zall Poland (25-14. 25-16, 25-20) and cup finalists Glasgow Mets (25-21, 25-20, 25-23). They were joined in the semi-final by Zall Poland who beat Mets (25-21, 25-20, 25-23).

The division of honour women’s section one.
The division of honour women’s section one was very closely contested with Troon and Team Edinburgh both winning two games and losing one. Troon lost to Team Edinburgh (25-18, 24-26, 17-19) whereas Team Edinburgh lost to English Cup winners University of London (14-25, 25-22, 11-15). Division of honour women’s section two saw English Universities win all three games against USA Athletes (25-17, 25-8), Glasgow Mets (25-23, 25-10) and Drummond Jets (25-12, 25-10).  The USA Athletes finished as runners up beating Glasgow Mets (25-23, 25-20) and Drummond Jets (25-20, 25-23).

Outdoors.
Outdoors the Italian sides, the Russians and the Belgians all qualified for the Sunday trophy competitions along with local sides Perth Pearls, Inchy Feet, Campus Sports and Kelty Chiefs.

SUNDAY.
Sunday morning’s  competition started with the Division of Honour semi-finals with the USA Athletes narrowly pipping Zall Poland 25-23, 25-23 to reach the final. They were joined by Caledonia who held the upper hand against Rucanor Jets 2-17, 25-18. The women’s semi-finals saw Troon triumph over the USA Athletes 25-16, 25-21 and English Universities win against Team Edinburgh 25-21, 25-22.

Division of honour plate competition.
In the division of honour plate competition Glasgow Mets defeated Team Fife and the Scottish Lions in the men’s competition with University of London winning the division of honour women’s competition beating Rucanor Jets in the consolation final.

women’s division of honour.
The women’s division of honour paired the Scottish Cup Winners Troon with the English Universities and they were hoping it would be third time lucky as the Ayrshire side had lost the previous two Scottish Open finals.

The final began with Troon losing the first five points without reply and a time-out by coach Krawczyk did little to stem the flow but a second time-out at 3-9 saw the Troon lasses begin to get their act together. It was to no avail however as the English side completed the set  with a 25-21 points victory. The second set , although more keenly contested most of the way saw the Universities’ side pull away to win the competition with a  25-19 scoreline to dump the Troon side who again failed at the final hurdle.

Men’s division of honour
The men’s final followed on the centre court with plenty of atmosphere in the 500 or so congregated in the spectator galleries surrounding the court. GB squad member Ali Galloway captained the Caledonia side Mark Thomas fulfilling the similar role for the Americans. The first set was an enthralling affair with the Scots always chasing the Americans who after 32 minutes’ play recorded victory by 25 points to 21. The second set began with the American students edging ahead but a spirited fightback by the Scots saw them level the game at one set all, the scoreline reading 25-19. The third set decider was evenly matched although the Americans turned round just ahead. The Scots rallied again but it was to no avail as the Tourists triumphed to lift the Scottish Open title 15-10 to delirious celebrations involving the whole American party.

Outdoors
Outdoors the Russian women’s side Pskov lifted the women’s division one trophy and the Belgians were involved in a three way play off for the men’s division two qualification against Nuvoc and Kelty Chiefs. The Kelty side finished on top . That left a pool of three teams in a round robin final play off involving other local side Campus Sports along with  Single Malt. Single Malt were worthy victors with Kelty Chiefs finishing as runners up.

Women’s division two.
In women’s division two local side Perth Pearls reached the final losing out to Stirling University.

Mixed division two.
The Italian side Pavia ran out worthy winners of mixed division two, being well pleased at lifting the glass rock trophy along with a bottle of the Famous Grouse.

Local Sponsors.
Thanks are also due to local sponsors for their support of the tournament –Famous Grouse Whisky, The Trophy Shop and St Johnstone Football Club.

Trophy Winners’ List 2008

  WINNER RUNNER UP  CONSOLATION
Women’s Division of Honour English Universities Troon University of London
Men’s Division of Honour USA Athletes Caledonia  Glasgow Mets
Women’s Division One Pskov Academy NGVC .
Men’s Division One Bellshill Cardinals Spiking Beasts Mets Vets
Women’s Division Two Stirling University Perth Pearls   Golden Girls
Men’s Division Two Single Malt Kelty Chiefs Carlisle VC
Men’s Division Three We’re With Grandad SP101 Legends AB3 VC
Mixed Division Two Pavia (Italy) Hazlehead VC Hebburn Help Us
Mixed Division Three Hum Diggers  Glasgow University  The Dinosaurs
Best Dressed Team Hubble Bubble
   
   
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