IT was a case of win one, lose one for Scottish women's volleyball

champions MCA Powerhouse Cardinals at the weekend.

After having achieved their best victory of the season -- despite

losing the opening set -- in Sunday's 4-15, 15-11, 15-11, 15-13 win over

Rucanor Jets at Meadowmill, a success which puts Cardinals in the

driving seat in the women's first division, their joy was tempered a

little when they were informed that they had officially ''lost'' a match

against Whitburn, that they had won on court, earlier in the season.

The Scottish Volleyball Association have come to the conclusion that

Cardinals played three ineligible players in their 15-5, 15-3, 15-6

success in that league match against the side from West Lothian on

October 29.

The three in question turned out for Cardinals in a second-team match

against Glenrothes Olympiad earlier in the day, because that team was

short of players.

But the problem was that the same three players then turned out for

the first team.

Although it hardly gave the first team an advantage, an official for

the sport's ruling body in Scotland yesterday claimed that: ''Because

the second-team match took place first, the players were ineligible for

the first-team match.''

As a result, Cardinals have been deducted the three points they

''won'' in that second game, but the matter is far from closed because

the volleyball association's decision is subject to appeal.

Cardinals are now preparing such action because they claim they were

unaware of the SVA rule as it stood.

''We were operating to the information we had received on the law at

that time,'' said Cardinals' coach Vince Krawczyk. ''We believe we have

solid ground for appeal.''

The second-team result -- a straight-sets win over Glenrothes -- has

been allowed to stand, a decision which also is likely to upset the Fife

team who are bidding for promotion.