Glasgow Mets Volleyball Club

Mets returned to league action this weekend after victory against Bon Accord in the Top Teams Cup last week. As Mets aim to defend their league title, home to Troon will be seen as one of the easier matches on paper for Mets this season. Troon however are looking to establish themselves as a regular 1st Division side and the victory over title challengers Kilmarknock Blaze at the start of the season illustrates that volleyball isn’t played on paper.

Mets however surged to an early lead in the 1st set through good serving, and some poor errors from the Troon side. Upon the 2nd technical timeout Mets held a 16-7 lead, and the atmosphere in the hall was to keep Troon in single figures. As the game progressed and with the way Mets were playing this didn’t seem like a daft idea. Great determination from the Mets defence and some nice hitting, including back-court hits allowed Mets to run away with the match and into a 22-8 lead. A hit through middle from Troon and then a service and hitting error meant Mets were serving for the set at 24-9, but unfortunately the serve went into the net and they won it on the next point, 25-10.

The second set started much tighter, with neither team able to win a series of points on their serve. Errors were creeping into both sides, especially from the service box. Ryan McLeod started to find some rhythm with his hitting as Mets edged into a 9-5 lead. A wipe-off the Mets block cut the gap to 3 points but then errors got the better of both sides with neither side being able to win a point on their serve before the 2nd technical time-out where Mets led 16-13. The match continued in this fashion, but when Mets were able to get the ball in control, McLeod was having some success wiping off the Troon block and Mets found themselves 24-20 ahead. Troon attempted a comeback but it was too little too late as Mets eventually won the set 25-22.

The third set unfortunately started in the same vain as the second with numerous errors affecting the flow of the game. Mets again found their rhythm first with Sean Hendry contributing with some great hits. Alan Krawczyk was varying his sets well and was getting success out of Vincent Lyle through the middle. Mets were leading 8-5 at the first technical time-out and were able to keep their 3 point lead till the 2nd technical with some good hitting. Mets were close to running away with the 3rd set as they stretched to a 21-16 lead. However an inexcusable amount of errors followed for Mets. Service into the net, a wild hit out by Hendry, a middle hit from ex-Troon player Daryl McFarlane going out, a block on Alan Milton and a good hit from Troon saw them level the set at 21-21. At this point coach Hudson took a time-out. Sean Hendry got Mets back in the lead with a strong hit into the block which dropped on the Troon side. A block from Vincent Lyle added to an invasion call gave Mets match point at 24-21. Troon wiped off the block and Hendry then hit out, Troon were now thinking that they could level the set again and extend the match to a 4th set. The game ended in the most anti-climatic fashion but not unsurprising, as it was another service error from Troon and Mets took the match 3 sets to 0 winning the third 25-23.

Man of the Match – Alan Krawczyk

Glasgow Mets 3 – 0 Troon (25-10, 25-22, 25-23)