Tournament heats up as temperatures rise

The second day of Ayr’s debut on the world stage of Beach Volleyball began with some exciting plays in the finale to the Men’s Pool Play.  

McKelvie/Stewart opened the day with a hard-fought victory over fellow-Scots Caldwell/McHardy 21-13, 21-18. The Monegasque pair of Ferry/Ferry secured a top seeding for the knockouts with a 21-11, 21-13 win over Northern Ireland’s Scott/Workman. Scots McHardy/Riddle also topped their pool by virtue of beating Bello/Soczewka 21-13, 22-20.

Ross McKelvie in action for Scotland during the CEV SCA Zonal Event Day 2, Kyle Academy, Ayr held on 4 June 2022. (Photo by Lynne Marshall | www.volleyballphotos.co.uk)

The Women’s Quarter-Finals opened with success for Scottish pairs Beattie/Coutts and Barbour/McReady defeating Fuentes/Salsedo 21-15, 21-11 and Gormally/Teterycz 22-20, 21-15 respectively. Muukka/Rantala and Keefe/Tucker also earned spots in the Semi-Finals with victories over the Northern Irish pairs of Mills/Montgomery 21-12, 21-10 and Patterson/Scott 21-10, 21-9 respectively.

The Men’s Quarter-Finals followed and kicked off with tight matches where McKelvie/Stewart beat McHardy/Riddle 21-16, 21-19 in an all-Scottish game. Bello/Soczewka also sprung an upset, beating top seed Robins/Panah 21-13, 21-19. Monaco brothers Ferry/Ferry beat Scots Boyle/McGuigan to secure another SCA Semi-Final spot before the sole remaining spot was taken by the second England pair of Gleed/Jones, who beat Scott/Workman 21-16, 21-13.

Jonathan Workman (NIR) in action during the CEV SCA Zonal Event Day 2, Kyle Academy, Ayr held on 4 June 2022. (Photo by Lynne Marshall | www.volleyballphotos.co.uk)

In the first Women’s Semi-Final, the Scottish top seeds of Beattie/Coutts secured their place in the Sunday Final, beating compatriots Barbour/McReady 21-11, 21-14. Keefe/Tucker and Muukka/Rantala produced the first (and last) three setter of the day in the closest match so far where Keefe/Tucker came back from one set down to win their Semi-Final 17-21, 21-15, 15-13.

Katie Keefe embraces Isabell Tucker during the CEV SCA Zonal Event Day 2, Kyle Academy, Ayr held on 4 June 2022. (Photo by Lynne Marshall | www.volleyballphotos.co.uk)

The final day will begin with the following Men’s Semi-Finals:

McKelvie/Stewart Vs. Ferry/Ferry

Gleed/Jones Vs. Bello/Soczewka