Students given lesson as plate final place secured

Dundee’s ladies team moved smoothly into the National Plate final with an excellent 3/0 win over Stirling University last Saturday. The long, early morning journey to Prestwick had little effect on the Dundee side as they opened up a 7/3 lead, with Laura Ward scoring 4 counterattack points in a row and Sarah Driscoll adding another 2. The students put the Dundee girls under pressure, and they conceded 8 points in errors, giving the Stirling side a 14/11 lead. Ward and Driscoll kept Dundee close, and Hannah Lawrie scored a sharp, quick hit to tie the scores at 19/19. Stirling gifted 3 points in mistakes and Nicola McKenzie and Emma Clarkson both scored to win the set 25/20.

Dundee had problems defending the height and power of Stirling outside hitter, Yi She, as the students crept ahead to 14/11 in the second set. Agnes Bednarek and Nicola McKenzie helped with scores and 3 service errors gave Dundee easy points to tie at 16/16. Ward, Driscoll, and Lawrie all scored as Dundee took a crucial 21/18 lead and looked comfortable. A service that was too long and several wayward hits handed the students an advantage at 23/21. There was no panic as Nicola McKenzie scored a big hit followed by Sarah Driscoll scoring 2 service ‘aces’ to win the set 25/23.

Dundee had control of the third set with the outside hitters, Ward, Driscoll, and McKenzie racking up hits to lead 18/9. Hannah Lawrie and Agnes Bednarek added scores before Emma Clarkson completed the win with another service ‘ace’ taking the set 25/16 to secure their cup final place.

The final in Edinburgh University in April will be against Glasgow International who beat Edinburgh University ll 3/0. It will continue family rivalry between Dundee’s Hannah and GI’s Emma Lawrie!