Women’s 2nd Team

 

 

 

Coach: Jack McKeown
Captain: Catherine Dunlavey (cjd21@st-andrews.ac.uk)
Practice times:

- Tuesday: 9 - 10:30

- Friday: 9 - 10:30
League: BUCS Scottish 2A, Scottish Conference Cup

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Women’s 2nds team – one of our other competitive teams – competes both in the BUCS S2 league, as well as a District league, keeping them busy on the fixtures front. Coached by Jack McKeown, the girls have great potential to work their way up the ranks and are aiming to take the lead in their pool. The development of the 2nds team over the years greatly contributes to the visibility of the Saints Volleyball Club, and its place at the heart of the Saints Sports performance programme. 

 

 

2015/2016 Season Review

By Catherine Dunlavey (Women's 2nd Captain 2015/2016)

 

Although we ended on a great note, three straight wins until a loss in the Cup Final game, the season started off a bit rocky. We started the year off with 13 players but due to injuries we were down either in the front or defensive positions often. Nonetheless, we had a strong but small group of core attendance. A lot of young players, new to the University of St Andrew's volleyball club and seconds team picked up the slack and really stepped up in surprising ways by learning unfamiliar positions and increasing their skill sets. As individual players were concerned, there was a very strong skill set to be benefitted from. However, as we lost 9 players from last year and had only three returners, the ability to work as a cohesive unit took a lot of work to come into full fruition but we have seen immense progress over the past nine months. This was especially clear during the second term when we had three injured players recover and return fully. Despite a season below .500 overall, the end of season was characterized by matches pushed to five sets, and losses that occurred by small margins. With the improved commitment, numbers and progress we’ve seen and the number of returning players we have a strong season to look forward to next year. We will continue to focus on improving basic skills such as serve receive, and working on consistency in our service and overall game play while also finessing our finer skill sets individually. We couldn't have accomplished this without our coach's positivity and committment, or without the immense support of my vice captain. The team chemistry that we have makes this team and season a truly unique one and going on we only have progress to look forward to.

 

 

 

2014/2015 Season Review

By Paula Murmann (Women's 2nd Captain 2014/2015)

 

It’s been a season of renewal for Saints women’s second volleyball team. There was a new coach – former Scottish beach volleyball champion Jack McKeown – a new captain in the form of first year Paula Murmann, from Canada, and a pile of new players. The season started strongly with 3-1 victories over Robert Gordon and Glasgow University. A narrow loss to Abertay, led by Scotland player Nicola McKenzie, and an unfortunate forfeit to Napier were the only blots on the copy sheet. A highlight of the season was the team’s performance against Glasgow Caledonian, a team that has no fewer than four players on the Scottish Universities squad. Paula, taking over as captain from Savannah Sloop, put in a career-best display of passing and hitting, inspiring the team to take one set and make the rest razor close. An inspired Saints squad gave the undefeated league winners’ easily the biggest scare of their season. Although they finished a disappointing fifth in the league, the team put in some great performances and have plenty of potential. Strong play from stalwarts such as setter Emma De Paoli, power hitters Ali Epstein and Catherine Johanna, and libero Caroline Courthouts were backed up by huge improvements from middle hitters Jana Tauschinski and Camila Molina and off-setter Carolyn Barasko. With so much potential, hopes are high for the 2015/16 season.

2013/2014 Season Review
By Savannah Sloop (Women's 2nd Captain 2013/14)

The University of St. Andrews Women's 2nd Volleyball Team had a much better season than last, and are excited to push forward into a new season. Travelling all over Scotland has the girls excited for what next season may bring for the team. Before we start talking about what is to come, we should remember the gems of this season that we will unfortunately be losing.
 
Firstly, Coach Ronan will be leaving St. Andrews to move down to England. Coach Ronan has been a wonderful mentor for the 2nd's team and will be missed greatly. Who knows how much sass the next coach will put up with?  Some of our greatest contributing team members will unfortunately be leaving. Liliana Besosa, setter, will be finishing her degree at The College of William and Mary after spending two fun years with us on the court. Liliana was a great leader on and off the court, and games certainly won't be the same without her. Mohini, middle and outside, or whatever the coach felt like playing her that day, is finishing up her PhD at St Andrews. Mohini was always prepared to switch positions and play wherever the team needed her. She was a versatile and very valuable player.  are looking forward to the new season to come!