The second day of the SCA Zonal Tour in Ayr lived up to expectations, delivering thrilling knockout beach volleyball action. Scotland solidified its position as the dominant nation, with three women`s teams and two men`s pairs securing their spots in the semi-finals, fueling hopes for multiple medals for the home crowd on Championship Sunday.
In the women`s bracket, Scotland asserted its control, claiming three of the four semi-final berths. Lynne Beattie and Mhairi Wallace faced their toughest challenge yet against Malta`s Tamara Kenkovski and Mikaela Galea but emerged victorious with a 2-0 win (24-22, 21-14), securing a close first set before dominating the second. Kathryn Barbour and Alexis Crusey continued their impressive run, achieving a convincing 2-0 victory over fellow Maltese players Monica Zammit Munro and Jana Kenkovski. The dynamic duo of Alexandra Clegg-McKeown and Melissa Coutts, combining youth with experience, also showcased their skill by defeating Ireland`s Fiona Lamont and Lara McNichols in straight sets. These victories set up an all-Scottish semi-final between Barbour/Crusey and Clegg-McKeown/Coutts, guaranteeing at least one Scottish team in the women`s final. The other semi-final will feature Beattie/Wallace against Northern Ireland`s Tara Mooney and Grace Allen, who narrowly defeated Scottish pair Samantha Fowler and Charlotte Morgan in a three-set battle.
Similarly, the men`s competition will see two Scottish duos competing in the final four. Euan Fraser and Ben McHardy delivered a composed and decisive 2-0 performance against Luc Macia de las Heras and Sergi Navas of Andorra, maintaining their unbeaten streak heading into Sunday`s matches. Ben`s brother, Jamie McHardy, alongside his partner Ross McKelvie, also advanced confidently with a 2-0 win over Iceland`s Emil Mar Diatlovic and Tomas Davidsson. However, not all Scottish teams found success. Ewan Ramsay and Cole Turnbull were eliminated by a spirited Welsh pair, Conor Robins and Matthew Pollock, while Murray Paterson and Keir Paterson were outplayed by Monaco`s formidable Ferry brothers, Pascal and Vincent. The men`s semi-finals are now confirmed: Fraser/McHardy will face Robins/Pollock in a highly anticipated Celtic showdown, and McHardy/McKelvie will challenge Monaco`s Ferry brothers in what promises to be an intense, high-quality contest.
With five Scottish teams still vying for medals and strong contenders from Northern Ireland, Monaco, and Wales, Championship Sunday in Ayr is perfectly set for an exhilarating day of drama and celebration. Local enthusiasts can anticipate high-stakes action as the SCA Zonal Tour culminates in the crowning of its 2025 champions on the Scottish sands. Should adverse weather strike, all the action will be broadcast live on Scottish Volleyball’s YouTube channel and various social media platforms.
Jasper Thornfield 
Finley Blackwood