Men make Cup progress as they knock out NUVOC

The battle for league points for play-off places was on hold last weekend as Scottish Cup round 4 games took priority in Craigie High School.  NUVOC were the opponents in the men’s game and posed a real threat as they are a Premier League side in the relegation zone.  The visitors took an early 5/2 lead as they tried to impress their superiority on their League 1 rivals.  Both sides traded points with former Dundee hitter, Robbie Binnie, the main scorer for NUVOC.  The home site acquitted themselves well with Mike Coward, Colin Mcevoy and Boris Prodanov all scoring and helping to take a 21/19 lead.  A serving error and a block against Prodanov let NUVOC level at 21/21.  Prodanov then redeemed himself with two service ‘aces’ and a quick attack from Oz Dowie gave Dundee the set 25/21.  The home side continued to dominate the game, forcing the Edinburgh side into mistakes, with Dundee taking an 18/13 lead.  Dundee’s tactics and the use of quick attacks were paying dividends as they took the second set 25/22, with middle players Craig Goldthorpe and Rad Marinov both scoring points.

Marinov, Dowie and Prodanov set about dominating the net and Dundee held a 12/8 lead, with NUVOC unable to win points with net blocks or counter attacks.  Mike Coward and Dave Bonnar took the score to 19/14.  A poor service gave Dundee the advantage and they won the next four points through Lewis Crockart and Prodanov to hold match point at 24/14.   NUVOC scored a consolation point before Dundee secured their quarter-final place, winning 25/16.