Trying to win it with kids . . .

VOLLEYBALL

Julianne Hendry, just 13, is on course to become the youngest player to play in a Scottish Cup final after being named in the Troon Team Ayrshire squad for tomorrow’s match with Edinburgh Jets at Wishaw Sports Centre, writes Roddy Mackenzie.

Players under the age of 14 are not permitted to play in the Scottish League without special dispensation but Troon have received permission for Hendry to play in the cup.

Hendry was in the Scotland under-19 team that won bronze at last weekend’s Small Nations European Championship finals in San Marino.

“She will be in the squad on merit,” said Vince Krawczyk, the Troon coach who also takes charge of Scotland’s under-19s. “She served six times in San Marino and three of those were aces.”

Krawczyk will include 17-year-old Jane Drauz-Brown, Scotland’s secondtop scorer in San Marino, in his starting six and 15-year-old Rachel Morrison, also part of his under-19 national side, will be his first attacking substitution.

While the coach has given youth its fling, he knows the key to victory lies with 42-year-old libero Gillian Lyall, playing in her 20th cup final. “It’s pretty important that she is playing; we’d find it difficult to win if she was not in the team,” Krawczyk admitted. “She is such a big influence on the young players; her leadership qualities are second to none.”

In the men’s final, Edinburgh Jets seek to complete a first league and cup double but face a Glasgow Mets team who inflicted their only league defeat.