Kilmarnock Blaze played local rivals Troon in the first game of the new league season.  Troon were called up to the first division at the last minute as Team Fife pulled out of the competition, whereas after a few seasons of no silverware, Kilmarnock were confident that, this year, they had a strong enough team to put forward a strong challenge for the league.

The newly named Kilmarnock Blaze, had a new look to their team, as swing hitter John Hollis and libero Martin McMullen were starting their first seasons in the Killie first team.  Both made confident starts, McMullen’s passing was on the money from the start of the set, and Hollis’s hitting was a threat throughout.  This put the Blaze in a strong position to win the set 25-18.

The second set went in a similar fashion, with middle hitters Stuart Edgar and Stewart Caldwell benefitting from the steady passing unit provided by McMullen and captain Gordon Welsh.  It was left to setter Colin Giles to finish the set 25-14 with a run of impressive serves.

Youngster Mark Lawson came on for player coach Edgar in the third set and marked the start of his first season in the first team with a confident blocking performance.  However, the gritty play of Troon frustrated the more technical Kilmarnock.  Troon managed to grind out the set 25-23.

Edgar brought himself back on in the fourth set in a passer/hitter role, which helped to stabilize the passing unit that had lost its way in the third set.  With the steady platform to build on Killie stretched out a lead that Troon could not come back from, and The Blaze took the set 25-17, to win the match 3-1.

Stewart Caldwell

KVC Press Officer