Launch time: Andrea Bernatzeder in action during the recent volleyball tournament in Belhar.

They strived and strained, but the UCT men's and women's first teams came away disappointed with their showings at a pre-season warm-up tournament, hosted by the WP Volleyball Union at the Belhar sports centre over the weekend of March 19 to 21.

Sadly, neither side made much of an impression and failed to record a win in the round robin stages of the competition. "We just didn't get into any of the games," said Anneke Voigts.

There were a few promising signs, however, she added, notably the women's undaunted performance against the all-conquering University of the Western Cape outfit.

The season's league challenge kicks off this week.