Cyprus and Scotland advanced for the final round of the junior girls European Championships (Small Countries Division) after taking the top two spots in the qualifying Group B played in Malta last week.

Cyprus topped the group with three wins and taking maximum points in the process. After beating Scotland 3-1 in the first match, which lasted close to two hours, they found the going easier against Northern Ireland and Malta, winning 3-0 in both matches.

The Cypriot girls were clearly the best team of the tournament and with Nikoletta Stylianou and Eleana Petrou obtaining an average of 12 points per match, there was little the other teams could do to overcome them.

Scotland’s performance was commendable.

After stretching Cyprus in their opening match, they then beat Malta and Northern Ireland with a similar 3-0 score, thus securing second place and qualifying for the final round which will be played in Cyprus later on this year.

Sophie Hunter, whose 32 points included nine aces, and Claire Ramage, led their team-mates through the three matches, with Mhairi Agnew and Becky Arthur adding valuable points.

Northern Ireland’s star was their captain Alice Harkness, not because of the 28 points she obtained but also through the sheer determination she showed all the time she was on the court.

Malta’s team was the youngest of the four, with only a handful of players out of the 12 taking part actually having some kind of international experience.

This transpired during those moments when the going got tough and when experience pays more than skill.

The local girls played a good match in their first outing against Northern Ireland, winning the third set with a convincing 25-15 score. But it was a different story against Scotland and Cyprus with the Maltese not managing to play at their very best.

Sarah Spiteri shone in the first match, with 17 points while captain Denise Grech was more consistent throughout the weekend, winning a number of points for Malta.

In a short ceremony at the end of the tournament, Malta Volleyball Association president Branco Vlahovic, together with CEV Supervisor Nihat Ermihan, thanked the players and coaches for their contribution and handed out mementoes to referees Ilaria Vagni (Italy), Alexander Brandstaetter (Austria), Andreas Constantinides (Cyprus), John Swan (Scotland) and Marvic Micallef (Malta).

Tournament Awards

Best setter: Ioanna Leonidou (Cyprus).

Best receiver: Stella Constantinou (Cyprus).

Best blocker: Nikoletta Stylianou (Cyprus).

Best server: Sophie Hunter (Scotland).

Best spiker: Claire Ramage (Scotland).

Most Valuable Player: Nikoletta Stylianou (Cyprus).

Results: Cyprus-Scotland 3-1; Malta-Northern Ireland 1-3; Cyprus-Northern Ireland 3-0; Scotland-Malta 3-0; Northern Ireland-Scotland 0-3; Malta-Cyprus 0-3.

Final standings: Cyprus 9 points, Scotland 6, Northern Ireland 3; Malta nil.

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