Tough test for Scots at home and abroad

VOLLEYBALL: Scotland’s match against Northern Ireland in the Young Seniors European Championships at Ravenscraig tonight (8.30pm start) marks the start of a hectic week for the country’s young male and female players.

Grant Gwynne, who captained Marr College to victory in last month’s Scottish Schools’ Cup, will skipper the under-19 squad that will also have matches against San Marino, Cyprus, Ireland and Luxembourg over the next five days. He is joined in the squad by his Marr College team-mate, Scott Wilson.

Over in Cyprus, Gemma Ramsay, one of four Queensferry High School pupils in the squad, will be captaining the Scottish team that continues an exciting debut in the Small Nations European Tournament.

Having come through the qualifying event in Malta in January, the 12-strong squad have been drawn in a squad alongside Luxembourg, Leichtenstein and the defending champions, Cyprus.

Unfortunately, Claire Ramage (Pretswick Academy) and Katie Shaw (May Erskine’s) are unavailable from the Malta line-up, but they have been replaced by new caps Elise Rodgers (Carluke High School) and Laura McKillop (Marr College). “The other three teams in the pool are the traditional powerhouses at these championships,” said Scottish coach, Vince Krawczyk.

“But I have every confidence that our talented youngsters will step up to the mark and make Scotland proud.”

Scotland will open the programme against home side Cyprus on Friday, play Luxembourg on Saturday and complete the pool stage against Leichtenstein on Saturday.

SCOTLAND GIRLS’ SQUAD (for Small Nations European Tournament in Cyprus)

Gemma Ramsay, Sophie Hunter, Katie Sampson, Becky Arthur (all Queensferry High School), Elise Rodgers (Carluke High School), Katie Barbour, Laurie McKillop, Eilidh Cruise (all Marr College), Naomi Symonds (Peebles High School), Nicola McKenzie (Carnoustie High School), Michalina Ognewa (St Maurice’s, Cumberbnauld), Mhairi Agnew (Belmont House School).