Naas volleyball team promoted after win over Trinity College

Front Row L-R: Cora Moloney, Alice Linehan, Amy Dowling, Rica Garcia, Laura Owens, Mary Creaton

Back Row L-R: Ann Fay, Fabiola Souza, Aoibhín Cassidy, Katie Nolan, Niamh Bergin, Eimear O’Neill, Sarah Behan-Cahill, Crona Byrne.

Naas Cobras Division 1 ladies volleyball team have been promoted to the premier league after their hard-fought 3-2 win over their fellow top of the table opponents Trinity College Dublin over the weekend.

The Naas team settled into the match with strong serving from Eimear O'Neill and Alice Lenihan, clever setting from Mary Creaton and aggressive attacking from Fabi Marchinni and Aoibhín Cassidy to win the first two sets comfortably, 25-15, 25-13 respectively.

Nerves set in during the third set with Trinity growing into the match, raising their game to match the Kildare teams' efforts.

Trinity took an early lead in the 3rd set and despite a good fight back, Naas lost the set 25-21. Naas started the fourth set how they finished the third, however Trinity were throwing everything they had to hold on to any chances that they had of winning the coveted title.

Strong serving from Trinity allowed them to edge an early lead. Despite tireless defensive play from Naas players Katie Nolan and Alice Lenihan, the Kildare girls couldn't pull away with a lead and lost the fourth set 25-20.

The game was headed for a dramatic 5th set finale for the large group of supporters that travelled to Dublin for the match. Naas started the final set with a winning mentality and settled in to the final set lead with powerful serving by Eimear O'Neill who served five in a row to edge out any fears of Trinity fighting back.