BRITISH volleyball has finally shown it can rub shoulders with decent European opposition after a significant night for the sport at the English Institute of Sport in Sheffield.
The Great Britain women's team, featuring former Team Edinburgh players Jennifer Thom and Joanne Morgan, beat Albania 25-22, 25-21, 23-25, 25-20 in the first round, first leg of the European Championship.
The GB men's team then made it a double ni
ght for celebration as they edged Denmark in a five-set thriller with Scot Chris Lamont playing a significant role 25-22, 20-25, 25-19, 22-25, 15-11.
Both teams now have a chance to progress to the second round group stages with the away ties this weekend.
The men have been based full-time in the Netherlands under coach Harry Brokking and, in a move unique to British sport, played in the Dutch Pro A League.
Former City of Edinburgh player Mark McGivern saw his share of the action and there is much promise as the GB programme builds towards the London Olympic Games in 2012.
The GB women recovered after losing the third set to hold their nerve and come up with a 3-1 lead to defend in Albania on Sunday.
GB coach Dr Lorne Sawula said: "I told the players beforehand that they had to believe and be confident. We had a lot of weapons and tools at our disposal and we knew that if one didn't work then we go to the next one.
"It was very important for us to stay together as a team and I'm so happy that the people who have worked hard for this can now believe in us."
The full article contains 292 words and appears in Edinburgh Evening News newspaper.
