Having already defeated Heriot Watt University in the first round, Perth & Kinross men’s volleyballers celebrated their second round Scottish Cup adventure at Loch Leven Community Campus on Saturday afternoon taking on Dundee University’s young student side.
With players taken from various district league sides who compete at Bell’s Sports Centre in the Perth & Kinross Sunday League at Bell’s Sports Centre the first set opened with the Dundee students taking the early initiative with the home side looking distinctly nervous. The early flurries were error filled with neither side settling into any rhythm until the score reached 8 points each. The home side then went on a run of points taking the score to 20-14 in their favour and they never looked back from that point taking the first set 25-17.
The Perth & Kinross men continued their momentum into the second set to win that by 25 points to 18.
P&K (in white) attacking the Dundee University team
The third set saw a dramatic turn of events with Dundee University storming ahead to take a 14-7 lead which soon became 25-18 to bring them right back into the game.
Dundee started the fourth set on top to lead 9-4 but the home side pulled level at 12 points each. The score progressed to 23 points each with both sides having the opportunity to win the set but it finally went the home side’s way with a narrow 26-24 score to take them into the cup draw with the big boys of Scottish Volleyball.
The P&K team after their victory over Dundee University
The next round draw was made on the Wednesday afternoon at Scottish Volleyball’s HQ in Edinburgh by Dundee stalwart John Scrimgeour and he did his Perth neighbours no favours in pitching them against the current cup holders, City of Edinburgh on Saturday 26th January. Perth & Kinross have been drawn at home and the tie is made particularly interesting with two former Kinross BB players, Mitchell Brown and Mark Cathro, now featuring for the City of Edinburgh side in what will, in effect, be a “home” tie for them as well.