|
Belfast and North Eastern ELB win
2008 Sport Northern Ireland
Volleyball Youth Games
It was a great day of volleyball for all ten regional development squads who took part in the 2008 Sport Northern Ireland Volleyball Youth Games held at the University of Ulster’s Jordanstown Campus.
In each of the boys and girls competitions the following five Education and Library Board (ELB) areas took part: Belfast, Southern A, Southern B, South Eastern and Northern Eastern.
In the morning the teams played a round robin competition to determine progression to the crossover semi finals. The first boy’s semi final saw SELB A defeating NEELB 2 sets to 1, winning the deciding third set 15-11. In the other semi final BELB defeated SEELB.
The boys final was then between BELB and SELB A. The first set saw BELB coming back from an early 9-13 deficit to win the first set 25-22. It was a different story in the second set as BELB got the better start to the set with a 13-6 lead and never relinquished the lead of the set and won the set 25-20 and the match 2-0 in the best of 3 set final.
In the girls competition the BELB girls followed their male counterparts into the final with a semi-final win over SELB B, winning 2-0. In the other semi final pre tournament favourites NEELB defeated SELB A.
In the girls final NEELB were ahead of BELB for the entire first set winning it 25-21. In the second set BELB came back well and looked to have snatched the set when they were ahead 20-24. BELB were unable to convert their 4 set point opportunities and NEELB eventually won a very tight second set 28-26 and the match 2-0.
Organiser Nick Wright from the Northern Ireland Volleyball Association said after the tournament: “This group of young people have displayed the best standard we have ever seen at the games. It is great to see so many young players playing at such a high standard and I would like to thank their coaches and their parents for their support and the players for their commitment all year.
There is no rest though for the players as this event was a selection event for the 2008 UK School Games to be held in Bristol and Bath in September and with the teams picked the training will start in earnest.
Northern Ireland Volleyball would like to thank the Sport Northern Ireland for their help and support, without it this event and the Regional Development Programme could not happen.”
Eamonn McCartan Chief Executive of Sport Northern Ireland added: “We are delighted to be able to support the Youth Games once again. I would like to congratulate all those who took part and wish them continued success”.
|
