Orkney will be represented in both the men’s and women’s
volleyball events at the island games this July, and as preparations
continue, they are hoping to serve up a smashing performance.
With the volleyball standard at the games extremely high, Orkney
will have to dig out an ace performance to compete with the likes
of the Faroe Islands and Saaremaa.
The teams, which balance a mixture of youth and experience, consist
of ten women and 11 men.
The men’s team will face Rhodes, Cayman Islands, Bermuda,
Guernsey and 2003’s winner Saaremaa in their pool matches.
Orkney’s women will face group matches against Bermuda, Gotland,
Aland and 2003’s winners, the Faroe Islands.
The standard that Orkney’s volleyball players will face is
high, to say the least.
The Faroe Islands recently defeated the Scottish national side,
which demonstrates the talent that will be on show in Shetland.
Morale, however, is high within the Orkney camp, and it is no wonder,
after impressive victories over Shetland and Dundee University last
December. Both the men’s and women’s teams defeated their
opponents without dropping a set, which has installed a mood of
optimism in the squad.
The Clickimin Leisure Complex, which will become the Island Games’
centre stage in July, is where the majority of matches will take
place. The West Mainland Leisure Centre in Aith, situated 35 minutes
from Lerwick, will be the second venue to be used.
Compared to other squads, Orkney’s volleyball history is relatively
short. The Orkney Volleyball Association was formed about ten years
ago and has moved around between Stromness Academy, Kirkwall Grammar
School and the Pickaquoy Centre ever since.
In a bid to compete with the games’ challenging standards,
Orkney’s volleyball players are practising twice a week.
According to women’s coach, Belinda Warnock, the team have
been determined throughout their preparations.
She said: “Both teams practice twice a week and they all do
their own fitness training on their own.
“We have been doing this since September as we know we need
to be as prepared as possible.
“Our season finished in Easter, so we have been making sure
that we do as much as we can to ensure we are fresh for the games.
“Every time the ladies have gone to the island games, they
have won a game, so it is this type of form we want to maintain,
and, if possible, we hope to do a bit better if we can.
“We played against Shetland just before Christmas and we managed
to beat them. This was a big boost for us and we are determined
to build upon this success.
“The standard at the games is very high. For example the Faroes
beat our national squad so we are obviously competing against good
players.”
One of Orkney’s most promising talents is the men’s assistant
coach Steven Spence, who previously captained Glasgow University’s
volleyball team to win the Scottish and British University Championships.
Steven also acknowledged the high competition standard, but said
that the teams are looking forward to the challenges that lie ahead
in Shetland.
He said: “The men have got a tough draw in the island games.
Volleyball is becoming increasingly popular which means that the
standard of island games teams is increasingly progressing.
“We will be playing against some national players, which is
going to be really difficult for us.
“From the men’s side of things we are hoping to build
on what is happening at the moment.
“Things have really picked up with the men’s team, at
one point we weren’t sure if we would have enough people together
for the games, but following good results against Shetland and Dundee
University, which gave everyone a taste of what it was like, the
team has responded really well and that is clear in our training
sessions.
“Some of the young guys are doing really well and in the future
they are going to be a lot better.
“Competitions such as the island games can only help them
to improve the volleyball standard in Orkney.
“We are looking forward to the experience again, it is about
the only time we get to feel what professional athletes go through.
“We are all really looking forward to it and it will be interesting
to see how the young players get on as this is going to be a big
occasion for them and hopefully it will help their progress in the
sport.
“There are other islands like us, where volleyball is a small
part of the sporting community, but in some of the member islands,
volleyball is like football over here and really popular.
“This means that they have much bigger groups of players to
select from. We are aware of this, but are gearing up to face some
of these players.”
Competitor Chris Bevan echoed these sentiments by saying that the
trip to Shetland will be one to remember.
He said: “The island games continues to grow as a sporting
event and it is one that will be a memorable occasion for us.
“Admittedly, there are a lot of good teams going but we just
want to go out and play against them.
“The only way we will improve is by playing these good teams
and we certainly have nothing to fear.
“It will be a great feeling to represent Orkney and we are
all determined to do as well as we can for the county.”
The Orkney volleyball squad’s determination and team morale
has been one of their most notable features so far, and according
to Alma Balfour, team manager, this can hold the team in good stead.
Alma said: “Everyone has been absolutely committed, it is
brilliant to see them all make such an effort by training twice
a week and working really hard. Volleyball is very much a team game
and our team get on very well and the morale is very high.
“A lot of our players have gained experience south and we
are hoping that this can help our efforts in Shetland.
“We can only say that we will do our best and, hopefully,
we can make more advancements as a team because this squad really
deserves it.”
|
