BUCS Big Wednesday: Volleyball

BUCS Big Wednesday saw three Northumbria University volleyball teams make the trip down to Bath.

And although only one returned with the championship title, a proud David Goodchild paid tribute to the players behind one of the UK’s most successful volleyball prohrammes.

Northumbria M2 were in action first, taking on Bristol firsts.

“The guys got beat 3-1,” said Goodchild. “Realistically, going into the game, we were underdogs, playing against a first team that hadn’t lost a match all year.

“We gave it our best and the lads worked brilliantly all year together. We had to lose one of our key players in Tim Carlson - who had to move up to the first team squad due to an injury to Seain Cook, and that was a real big blow for the team. But overall they fought hard.”

W1 took to the court next, taking on Durham.

“We lost 3-2,” added Goodchild. “We started pretty slowly and we can’t afford to give opposition teams big leads like we did.

“Durham are a very confident side. They’ve got two world class players in their age group, they’ve been training with the USA national team and, credit to them, they were brilliant.

“When teams play against us they’ve got nothing to lose because we’re just there to be shot at so they take calculated risks and just go for it and it came off for Durham.

“Credit to them, they’re a good side and they’ve got a good coach. They deserved to win the game.”

It was left to Northumbria M1 to top off the day with a spectacular 3-2 win over Sheffield Hallam.

“Sheffield, as we all know, play a different style of volleyball to us,” added Goodchild. “The players are small and they’re really skilful whereas we’re a big powerful side.

“We weren’t at our best and still turned around a four-point deficit in the final set. I’m really proud of the guys. They’ve been the best team all year round in the BUCS championship. They’ve not lost a game - league or cup - so credit to them.”