SVL Week 1 Commences This Saturday

Season 2015/16 gets underway this weekend with a rebranding of the league and some exciting times ahead in the Scottish Volleyball League. The restructuring will bring more intense competition ensuring every point, set and match is meaningful to everyone.

Men’s SVL Premier

Last year’s first time champions South Ayrshire start the season with a tough opener at home to a strong City of Glasgow Ragazzi buoyed with the big signing of Edward Gorecki from Glasgow Mets in the summer. Last year’s runners up Glasgow Mets will start their campaign against their Scottish Cup Final and newly promoted opponents NUVOC. Mets have lost a considerable amount of players from last season’s squad but have pulled together to put together a squad capable of challenging at the top of the division. The final match will see an Edinburgh derby between City of Edinburgh and Edinburgh Jets. Jets have recruited some new players and will be hoping to cause City of Edinburgh problems at Queensferry.

City of Edinburgh vs Edinburgh Jets – Queensferry High School – 2pm FBS
NUVOC vs Glasgow Mets – Forrester’s High School – 12.30pm FBS
South Ayrshire vs City of Glasgow Ragazzi – Prestwick Academy – 10.30am FBS

Women’s SVL Premier

Last year’s champions City of Edinburgh will be commencing their campaign against a strong Edinburgh Jets side who have recruited some high level players over the summer. Both teams have been boosted by the recruitment of new coaches over the summer and will go all guns blazing to start the season off strong. Newly promoted NUVOC will commence their campaign against their conquerors in the Scottish Cup last season, Aberdonia. Aberdonia Head Coach Connie Weisenfelder will draw upon this victory to focus the squad. Finally, Su Ragazzi will travel to their long-time rivals QTS Troon. Some major changes have taken place since last season with ex-Troon coach Vince Krawczyk taking charge at Su Ragazzi while Iain Parker moves into the Head Coach role at QTS Troon. This is indeed going to be a match to watch.

City of Edinburgh vs Edinburgh Jets – Queensferry High School – 12pm FBS
NUVOC vs Aberdonia – Forrester’s High School – 3pm FBS
QTS Troon vs Su Ragazzi – Prestwick Academy – 1pm FBS

Men’s SVL 1

The restructure of the leagues bring together an extremely competitive League 1 this season. City of Edinburgh II’s young brigade will start their season against the experienced Bellshill Cardinals. This will be an interesting match showing the young and fast City against the team from North Lanarkshire who are well known for making any match competitive due to their fantastic defence and aggression shown in offence. The men from Dundee will be looking to have a strong start when they host Bon Accord who will be looking to get promoted straight back to the top division at the first time of asking. Dundee have been developing their youngsters while still maintaining their mix of experience in the squad. A battle of Glasgow will take place at Lenzie Academy when Su Ragazzi II travel to Lenzie hoping to get a crucial victory to start their season. The teams had a tough match against each other last week but Su managed to pull through and take the victory 15-9 in the 5th set.

City of Edinburgh II vs Bellshill Cardinals – Queensferry High School – 10am FBS
Dundee vs Bon Accord – Cr
aigie High School – 1pm FBS
Lenzie vs Su Ragazzi II –
Lenzie Academy – 10.30am FBS

Women’s SVL 1

Two of the favourites for the Women’s SVL1 title square off against each other on day 1 of the season. Home side Dundee have signed former Su Ragazzi player Lucy Scouller hoping she can help them in their bid to win the division this season. Su Ragazzi II will have other ideas knowing their young brigade will be ushered by player coach Jen Downs. Edinburgh Jets II will make the trip along the M8 to Lenzie Academy to take on Glasgow International who have also changed coach over the summer. David McEwan
will be looking to mastermind a victory over their Edinburgh counterparts and give the Glasgow side a strong start to the 2015/16 season.

Dundee vs Su Ragazzi II – Craigie High School – 11am FBS
Glasgow International vs Edinburgh Jets II – Lenzie Academy – 1pm FBS

The 2015/16 Scottish Volleyball League Season will commence with some cracking encounters this weekend. Get yourself along to your local club and give them your support.