It was another successful weekend of volleyball for Team Northumbria as both the men’s and women's sides maintained their unbeaten run in the National Volleyball League Super 8s.
TN women delivered a blistering performance that saw them knock current champions Durham off the top of the table.
The two sides met in a BUCS fixture earlier in the week that saw TN take the win 3-2.
But it was a markedly different performance from the visitors this time around.
Durham brought along a busload of supporters but it was an in-form TN that started off strong in the first two sets, in a game that saw the visitors struggle with the hosts’ offensive play.
The away side finally appeared to find some of their form and fight back in the third set but TN quickly shut down the recovery to take the game in a 3-0 straight sets win.
“I think we were very disciplined,” said captain Jurja Vlasic. “We had a tough time in the BUCS game but we switched on for this game.
“We came prepared mentally and physically and I think we executed really well.
“They made a few changes which forced us to make some changes but we were very sharp and I have to give credit to my players.
“All of them stepped up and all of them were aggressive so it was a very good team performance.”
Delighted head coach Davis Goodchild echoed his captain’s view.
“As a whole the game was definitely one of the best three performances in the seven years I’ve been here with regards to the women’s game,” he said.
“They were faultless and they blew away the champions of last year.
“Durham are a good team and they’ll bounce back – we just played really well and they had a bad day.”
TN’s men team had a tougher time in their fixture as Sheffield Hallam put in a powerful performance.
Goodchild’s side had to dig deep for a fantastic comeback in the second set to bounce back from a four-point deficit and win 25-23.
Both sides were pretty even for the first 10 points of the third set but TN regrouped and finished strongly.
TN’s men have now extended their lead at the top and remain nine points ahead of their nearest competitors.
“We had our first defeat on Wednesday to Durham [in BUCS] so we spent a lot of time on Thursday looking at video individually with players,” added Goodchild.
“People had a point to prove and it was an opportunity for a few different starters and a change of personnel and positions.
“As a team we are very happy with the performance. I’m really pleased the way we’ve bounced back but we know in two weeks we have a tough weekend away to Polonia and Wessex.”
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