Volleyball Team reach semi-finals

At the weekends National Volleyball Championships in UCD a spirited performance from St Patrick’s College Volleyball Club making their debut in a National Competition saw them bow out in the semi finals by the narrowest of margins losing by 1 point to current National League Division 2 table toppers Dublin VC.   St Pats entered the Championships as Coláiste Phádraig which left most people asking the question of "who's that team?".

After being drawn in group 1 alongside National League sides Newbridge VC, Loughrea VC and the Ireland International Junior B team it appeared that a tough Saturday morning was on the cards.  However in the first game against the Ireland Junior B Team it was St Pats who raced into an early 11-5 lead which saw an outstanding defensive display coupled with some brilliant "Setting" from Moira Morley & Victoria Savage giving St Pats the edge, that Ultimately helped the side to a 20-12 victory in the 1st Set In the second set it was all one way traffic with St Pats convincingly taking the set 21-7

Up next for St Pats was National League side Loughrea VC in a much tighter game, after the 1st set ended level 15-15 it was all to play for in the second set. After a tense start St Pats looked the more likely to win as the team was spurned on by the fantastic determination of Team Captain Sarah Kearns with each player chasing every ball to ensure they would not let the game slip away and this proved to be the deciding factor as St Pats shocked the early spectators taking the set by 3 points. In the final group game, it was the experienced Division 1 side from Newbridge VC up next for St Pats.  Another close game followed with Newbridge winning the 1st set 15-13.  The second set was wide open with St Pats attacking at all opportunities looking to claim the set but even with the powerful display by Ashley Tomlin and the consistent Lorraine Sarsfield, Newbridge edged the set 16-13.
At the end of Saturday "Coláiste Phádraig" finished 2nd in their group much to the surprise of everyone in attendance as the pre-tournament odds would have been heavily stacked against the College especially as one of only two non league teams in the competition.

On Sunday morning it was an early start to the quarter final tie against the Ireland Junior International A Team and to put things in perspective, both Ireland teams have been in training camps for the past 2 years along with competing in a number of international tournaments so this was going to be a difficult game.  This spirited St Pats team were not prepared to go home on the early Bus especially after making the trek across the city.  With hardly 2 minutes gone in the 1st set, St Pats had stormed into a 6-1 lead and were not prepared to let it slip and soon raced away to a 21-11 victory no thanks to the hard work of Linda Lokkers who performed some excellent defensive duties.  The second set saw the Irish team put up a stronger display and at half way through the set the score was 13-12 in favour of St Pats.  The team needed to be freshened up and cue the entry of Sinead Flatley and Laura Tighe which gave the side extra attacking options and this guided St Pats to a comfortable victory.

Next on the list was a semi final against the much fancied Dublin VC.  After claiming the first set 17-16 St Pats looked as though another shock was on the cards but after an amazing ding dong second set in which both sides were neck and neck, it was the Dublin team who won the set 17-15 to reach the Final against another National League side Newbridge VC.  After missing out on Final berth by 1 point, it was a cruel end for the team after such a brilliant performance from everyone involved.  The players showed tremendous determination and character to get so far and to do so well and as the Championships closed everyone then knew about this Coláiste Phadraig team.  Such was the performances over the weekend that Aer Lingus Volleyball Club (Ireland's largest & most successful Volleyball Club) approached the team to offer them the opportunity to join their Club in the new season.

 

 

 

Last Updated: Monday April 21 2008