Ireland Edge Iceland in Five-Set Thriller to Open European SCA Championship
Sport Ireland Campus, Dublin – June 28
Ireland’s women’s volleyball team delivered a dramatic opening to the European SCA Championship with a pulsating 3-2 victory over Iceland, before cruising past Northern Ireland in a dominant straight-sets win to top their group early.
The host nation had to dig deep in their opener against Iceland, eventually clinching the deciding set 16-14 after saving three match points in a nerve-shredding tie-break. The atmosphere inside the Sport Ireland Campus was electric as Fiona Rigby came off the bench midway through the fifth set and served Ireland across the finish line with ice-cool precision. Her pinpoint deliveries and steely composure turned the tide just when Iceland looked poised to snatch victory.
Ireland captain Emily Frazell showed calm leadership throughout, while opposite hitter Emma Byrne made crucial plays at key moments.
But the star of the night for Iceland was 15-year-old prodigy Inga Björg Brynjúlfsdóttir, who stunned the crowd with a fearless, MVP-worthy performance that belied her age.
Coach Mark Delahunty’s tactical switch to bring in Rigby at a decisive moment paid off handsomely, showcasing Ireland’s growing depth. Final score: Ireland 3–2 Iceland (21-25, 25-22, 25-23, 22-25, 16-14).
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Ireland Sweep Northern Ireland in Confident Display
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With the emotion of the opening win still fresh, Ireland returned to the court on Saturday morning in confident form, delivering a clinical 3-0 win over Northern Ireland. Setter Regina Halpin was acrobatic and inventive, rescuing multiple rallies with sprawling digs and quick-thinking transitions.
Rigby once again impressed from the service line, while Trinity College’s Lara McNichols settled into the match with strong attacks and smart placement. The match also saw a senior debut for Gemma Brady, who slotted in seamlessly during the third set.
Middle blocker Laura Connolly was a dominant presence at the net, producing a string of towering blocks that snuffed out Northern Ireland’s attacking hopes. Ireland dictated the pace from start to finish, sealing the win in straight sets: 25-13, 25-23, 25-15.
With two wins from two, Ireland sit atop the rankings, full of belief and momentum as they look to make a statement on home soil.
Ireland take on San Marino on Saturday evening at 8pm.
