Rachel signs off with cup glory and a medal

Rachel Morrison has enjoyed a great end to her volleyball career at Ayr's Belmont Academy. She led her team to victory in the Scottish Schools' Cup and then helped Scotland finish in the medals at the CEV European Small Countries Championships at the Pleasance in Edinburgh.

Picture: Michael McConville

The home side finished with the bronze medal, beating Northern Ireland and the Faroe islands before slipping to defeats by Luxembourg and Cyprus.

Scotland opened with a 25-13, 25-5, 25-10 victory over Northern Ireland and then enjoyed a stirring win over the Faroe Islands. Trailing 14-23 in the first set, the under-19 girls battled back to win 29-27, 26-24, 25-17.

But a 19-25, 17-25, 21-25 defeat by Luxembourg was followed by a 15-25, 15-25, 15-25 loss theto overall winners Cyprus.

For Rachel, pictured right, it was a great experience. “We have a great volleyball club at school run by our PE teacher, Nathan Gilmour,” she said.

“Ayrshire has a great tradition, it’s known as the home of volleyball. I started playing in first year at Belmont 
Academy .

“I’m now in sixth year and I definitely want to keep playing the sport when I leave school.”

Jennifer Lee was one of four Queensferry High pupils in the Scottish squad, and she started when she was very young. “I was in Primary four at Kirkliston Primary when I was introduced to the game,” she said.

“Its been a great experience playing for Scotland in Edinburgh. The crowd was amazing and it was a really good three days.”

Scottish Under-19 squad:

Claudia Henry (Edinburgh College), Rachel Morrison (Belmont Academy), Louise Agius (Queensferry High School), Nicole Ramage (Prestwick Academy), Rachel Ferguson (Queensferry High School), Jennifer Lee (Queensferry High School), Raveen Gill (Mearns Castle High School), Julieanne Hendry (Marr College), Hannah Paisley (Belmont Academy), Emma Waldie (Queensferry High School), Laura Milliken (Marr College), Shona Fraser (Aberdeen Grammar School).