Volleyball: McGuigan faced with fresh fitness worries

Injury-hit City of Edinburgh face the biggest threat yet to their unbeaten record when they face reigning champions Glasgow Mets in the Schelde Sports Scottish Volleyball League tomorrow.

Player-coach Barry McGuigan, already resigned to being without Ben Hunter and Graham Riddle for most of the season, hopes Simon Hammond recovers from illness in time to play.

“This could be one of those seasons that I look back on and wonder how we scraped through,” McGuigan said. “Training has been difficult. If it’s not facilities that are causing a problem I just don’t know who’s fit enough from week to week.

“We are hanging on though. I find it incredible we are sitting undefeated at the top of the league, but we seem to be able to find depths of resolve at crucial stages that other teams have not.

“This is credit to the players battling one week at a time.”

Elsewhere in the division, second-bottom Edinburgh Jets have a crucial relegation battle against Troon PA, the team immediately above them.

In the women’s First Division, City of Edinburgh visit NUVOC in an all-capital clash and Edinburgh Jets host unbeaten league leaders Troon PA.