Kilmarnock welcomed Team Fife and Edinburgh Jets to Mearns Castle High School on Saturday 29th August for the annual pre season John Kurtz Memorial‏ Tournament.  This was the fourth year in a row that Killie had hosted the event and, so far, are undefeated.  The day started with the favourites, Killie, taking on Jets in the first game of the competition. 

Kilmarnock have a new look first team, with summer signing Stewart Caldwell, starting as middle blocker, and Colin Giles in his first season as first choice setter.  The changes in the team were evident as Killie went down early in the first set.  However the experience of passer/hitters, Stuart Edgar and Gordon Welsh led the team to a 25-21 first set victory.

The second set proved to be just as close, with player/coach Edgar choosing to bring on fringe players Brain Gaw and John Hollis.  These changes however did not make any difference in the final result, with Killie taking it 25-23.  The final set was more straight forward, the defending champions taking it 25-18, with Martin McMullen making a cameo appearance off the bench.

In the second game of the day, Team Fife faced a tough challenge from Jets. However the superior power of  Fife proved the deciding factor as they came out 3-1 (25-22, 25-18, 20-25, 25-21) winners.

The final game of the day, between Kilmarnock and Fife, would decide what team would take home the trophy.  The hosts, again, started slowly in the first set, however they managed to take the set, 25-20, thanks to some quality service from, setter, Colin Giles.

Edgar, again, decided to bring on Gaw and Hollis for the second set.  This move did not work so well against, the stronger, Team Fife.  Although the weakened Kilmarnock put up a good fight they eventually lost the set 18-25, tying the set score at one set all.

The first choice starting six was reunited on the court for the start of the third set.  This proved key, as the experience of, off-setter, Neil McCallum helped Killie pull out a lead in the set with some smart hitting, before he was, again, subbed, for John Hollis, so he could rest a shoulder injury he has been carrying.  The switch, this time, did not have an affect on Kilmarnock as they took the set 25-21.

The fourth set was a close encounter all the way through, with neither team managing to pull out a significant lead.  Towards the end of the set, some tired mistakes from Kilmarnock gifted the set to Team Fife, 26-28, leaving the score at two sets all and taking the game to a fifth set decider. 

The final set was almost as close as the fourth, with the lead switching several times.  The set was won thanks to some accurate hitting from middle blocking pair Gus Mitchell and Stewart Caldwell.  Kilmarnock in the end took the set 15-11, with it the match and, for the fourth year in a row, the John Kurtz Memorial trophy.

Stewart Caldwell

KVC Press Officer