Volleyball Intervarsity comes home after 7 year wait
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15 December 2010
The Tournament involved 11 teams . All members of the squad had moustaches for the tournament ( of various lengths) two members of the squad even had handle-bar moustaches ( Leo , Andrew)
The Pool stage ( first stage) consisted of 3 groups of 4 and one group of 3 ( that was our group) . The format was to play two untimed sets. All members of the squad competed in these two games. We comfortably finished top of the group, and qualified to the Cup stage
The Cup stage consisted of 2 groups of 3. The format was best of 3 un-timed sets. Our first challenge was UUJ who were winners of the tournament for the last two years. We scouted all their matches the previous day and took detailed notes on each player. Our work paid off and beat them 2-0. It didnt deter us that they had switched jersey numbers from the previous day. Another comfortable victory over UCD ensured that we qualified top of the group and hence didnt have to play a playoff match before the semi-final.
On the final day , Trinity College Dublin awaited us in the semi-final. Even though we played them on the Thursday previous and beat them , we did not underestimate them. Our hard work paid off and we reached the final. This was the first time we discussed the final match. UUJ beat the other favourites QUB ( Queens University Belfast) in the other semi-final. We played great volleyball in the final and that showed in the result. This was the 2nd time UCC won the intervarsities, the other time was 2003. After the match we lifted the ban on team photos. It was a great achievement. Our supporters were delighted and the team were delighted they turned up ( Claire Fenton , Rose Glancy , David Woods , Lisa Holz , Cian O'Sullivan, Barbara Geidner and Daga Glowgowska)
The Squad was amazing, we didnt drop a set all tournament , a proud achievement
Since we won , we qualified for the "Student Cup" in England in the 2nd weekend in February. Here the top 16 universities of Ireland and the UK will participate. Preparations for this will start tomorrow at training.....
This is our squad that competed
Leo Carroll ( middle ) Canadian
Matt Carere ( wing) Canadian
Andrew McCarthy ( middle) Irish - Captain
Neil Ferret ( Wing) French
Luc Dutel ( Opposite) French
Emanuele Bonato ( setter) Italian
Adrian Tam ( opposite) Canadian
Terence Ho ( Wing) Canadian
Dave Burgess ( setter) Canadian
Neo Wang ( middle) Chinese
Stefan Bartik ( wing) Polish
These are our official results
Final v UUJ: 25-17,25-13,25-17
Semi v NUIG: 25-17, 25-15
Friday: vs UUJ 25-19,25-16: vs UCD- 25-10,25-11
Thursday: v DCU 25-20,25-17; v NUIG 25-11, 25-18
