Day two of our Cup Finals Weekend kicked off with the Scottish Student Sport (SSS) taking on a Scotland Select Squad as the two women’s sides got the Friday session started.
A tale of two halves through our first couple sets saw the sides at a stalemate. SSS Took set one (25-16) before Scotland roared back to claim the second (25-14). Some stellar play from both sides saw a tightly contested affair for the remaining sets. The lead was hanging on a knife edge as the sides fought for control. The talent and experience of the SSS was the deciding factor, as they claimed a vital third set (25-23) before also winning set four (25-19) and taking the victory by three sets to one. Among all of the great performances, Sofia Bevenuto rose up above the rest as she dictated play and ensured SSS would be going home the winners! Bevenuto’s standout performance earned her the Most Valuable Player award for the match.
In a riveting match that saw the SSS team dominate with a commanding 3-0 victory, the volleyball action showcased impressive skills from both sides. However, it was the SSS team that truly shone, displaying remarkable power and precision throughout the game. Among the standout performers was Harry Orr, whose exceptional contributions on the court undoubtedly earned him the title of Most Valuable Player. Orr’s stellar performance not only fueled his team’s triumph but also left an indelible mark on the game, highlighting his prowess and impact as a key player.
The penultimate match of day two was a real blast from the past! For the first time ever, Scottish Volleyball got to pay tribute to the stars of years gone by in the first ever Legends Match. The teams were raring to go and ready to entertain! It was clear from the first ball that a couple of added years wouldn’t be slowing anyone down as the teams fought for every point, leaving our referee with a lot to do (before she was removed and replaced by our very own CEO, Margaret Ann Fleming). Although it was an exhibition, no one seemed to have told the players as each set went down to the wire, with our Navy Legends winning 2-1. Thank you to everyone who took part in the Legends Match and helped to make it a true spectacle in honour of some of the true greats of our game. We finished off the Legends match by awarding two other legends their Scottish Volleyball Lifetime Achievement Awards. Awarded to Lynne Marshall and Michael McConville of Volleyball Photos for their incredible work throughout the years photographing volleyball in Scotland and the world. It was an excellent end to an exciting addition to Cup Finals Weekend.
Finally, we witnessed the Men’s Senior National Team in action as they took to the court against the newly assembled HUDL All-Star Team. There was a lot to live up to, not only off the back of our Legends match but also after the show the Women’s teams put on the night prior! The first set was a battle, with the National Team narrowly coming out on top, 25-23 before HUDL upped the tempo and tied it up (25-13). From that point on, the All-Stars showed they had earned the call up, winning sets three and four by a score line of 25-19 and 25-18 respectively to make it a 3-1 victory on the night.
Saturday will see the conclusion of our Scottish Plates and Scottish Cups. It’s going to be a huge day and is sure to offer some top matches so be sure to get your tickets or watch along live!
