GAME 1

After the convincing win over Glasgow Mets in the playoff semi-final, Kilmarnock now faced City of Edinburgh in the final.  Kilmarnock went into the game full of confidence after their best performances of the season to beat Mets, however they knew they were going into the match as underdogs against a team who hadn’t lost a match in the league all season.

Edinburgh started by far the stronger, and took a big lead early in the first set, after an injury to the their first choice setter meant Killie had to change tactics at the last minute.  Kilmarnock did manage to adjust to the style of play, however the lead built by Edinburgh proved too big, and the set finished 25-19.

Kilmarnock started much better in the second set, managing to play a more effective game against the Edinburgh style.  The accurate passing of Gary McGuire helped Colin Giles spread the play at a speed to make the opposition block struggle.  Despite the improvement from Killie, the dogged defence of Edinburgh kept them in the set.  Going into the latter stages of the set, there was very few between the teams, but when Edinburgh got a run of serves to put them in the lead, there was very little time for Killie to make their way back into the set, Edinburgh soon took it 25-13.

Angus Mitchell came on in the middle blocker slot for Kilmarnock to strengthen up the block.  His influence was felt immediately not only in the block, but his hitting and serving proved a valuable asset to the team.  His inclusion seemed to lift the performances of his team mates and Killie raised their game enough to take it 25-20.

Although Killie went into the fourth set full of confidence , they got off to the poorer start, with Edinburgh managing to capitalise on some slack play, and although they fought until the end of the set, it wasn’t enough to prevent a 25-23 loss. 

Edinburgh took the match 3-1, but Kilmarnock knew it was only half time, and they could even the match up if they won the next day at home.

GAME 2

The second leg of the final was played in Kilmarnock, and the home team were hoping that the familiar hall would give them the advantage they needed to win the match and take the tie to a deciding third match.

After an impressive performance off the bench in the first leg, Angus Mitchell started in the middle blocker position.  His presence was felt from the start with a run of serves as well as an impressive blocking display.  The whole Killie team seemed to be fired up after the first leg loss and won the set, with an impressive 25-10 score.

Kilmarnock started the second set in the same fashion, however the unbeaten Edinburgh managed to keep the score close and when they put together a run of six serves, and they took a lead that they would not give up.  Killie pushed them close however Edinburgh took the set 25-20.

All the momentum was now this Edinburgh, and they were able pick up where they left off in the second set by taking an early lead in the third.  Runs of jump serves from Colin Giles and Stuart Edgar kept Killie in the set, but eventually Edinburgh accumulated enough points to take the set 25-19, giving them a 2-1 lead.

Young middle hitter, Stewart Caldwell came on in the forth set and his energy immediately gave his team a spark.  Although the play was not of the top quality, the Killie players understood that if they lost this set then they would lose the match and responded in superb fashion.  Almost grit and determination alone won the forth set 25-21, to make the match go to a deciding set.

Despite losing the forth set, Edinburgh started the stronger in the decider.  The fight back from Kilmarnock was still strong, but the could never come back from Edinburgh’s early lead.  Edinburgh took the set 15-12, and in doing so, won their first ever league title.

Kilmarnock were obviously disappointed with the loss, however this season was always thought to be mainly about rebuilding with several young players playing their first season in the top division, and in the end it was thought that coming second in the playoffs was a good overall result.

Stewart Caldwell

KVC Press Officer