It’s the end of the regular season and time for the playoffs in the first division, and Kilmarnock faced Glasgow Mets at Hollyrood Sports Centre in the first leg of their semi-final.  Mets had won three out of the previous four meetings between the teams this season, so Kilmarnock would have to bring their best game if they were to cause an upset.

Kilmarnock started well, and after a shaky start from Stewart Caldwell he soon regained his composure, and helped his teams cause with a few good blocks in quick succession.  However it wasn’t until Colin Giles stepped up to the line to serve that Killie took control of the set, as he put in six strong serves to put them in a winning position that they would not give up.  Kilmarnock took the set in impressive fashion 25-19.

Kilmarnock, again, raced out of the blocks in the second set.  Libero, Gary McGuire, stabled up the passing unit, meaning Giles could spread the play to all the hitters.  Gordon Welsh and Stuart Edgar benefited from the quality setting and Killie took the set 25-17.

The final set was much closer, until Caldwell stepped up to serve with the score at 19-16, in favour of Killie, and served six in a row, five of them unreturned, to take the set 25-16, and the match 3-0.

Second Leg: Kilmarnock 3  Glasgow Mets 1

Kilmarnock went into the second leg knowing that they would need to produce a similar quality performance to go through to the final.  They got off to an ideal start, with Euan Duncan bringing his best form to help Killie take the first set 25-18.  Although the early indications suggested a similar result to the first leg, Mets came straight back into the match and took the second set 25-19, leaving the score at one set a-piece.

Clever hitting from experienced Neil McCallum gave Kilmarnock a huge lead in the second set, and after going into the second technical timeout 16-9 up, they would never let the lead slip.  Although Mets made them work hard, Killie took the third set 25-14, and went 2-1 up.

The final set was the closest of the tie.  The teams traded points all the way until the end, when Angus Mitchell stepped up to serve out the set 25-23 and the match 3-1, putting Kilmarnock through to the final where they will play City of Edinburgh.

Stewart Caldwell

KVC Press Officer