Scotland and Great Britain international Mark McGivern has signed a professional contract with top Belgian side Menen.

McGivern joins fellow-Scot Chris Lamont at the club and it brings the tally of Scots playing abroard to five for the season.

Andy Benson and Paul Glissov have signed for Spanish side Tenerife Sur and former Su Ragazzi player Lynne Beattie is with Calcit Kamnik in Slovenia.

"It says a lot for the GB programme that so many of our players are picking up contracts with leading teams on the continent," said Kenny Barton, GB programme manager.

--

In the domestic game, both North Lanarkshire Volleyball teams were in action at the weekend to Jets teams from Edinburgh.

The women were first up against Edinburgh Jets 1 who were last year’s runners up to Troon in the league. Although the ladies lost out 3 – 0 they matched the away team in most aspects but didn’t have the overall consistency to take the match losing out 25-23, 25-18, 25-18.

A baptism of fire start for the girls then, coming up against  the winners of the league last week and the runners up this week but they can take heart from the performances if not the results.

The Bellshill Cardinals men were up against the newly promoted Polonia Jets team and expectations were high.

Both teams came out all guns blazing with powerful serving and hitting being the order of the day. This continued right through the match and although Bellshill took a commanding 2-0 lead Jets took the next three to come out 3-2 winners.

This was a big disappointment to the home team after such a good win last week.

This Saturday is a rest weekend before the Scottish Cup kicks off for the Men and the Top team’s Cup for the ladies.