Since the arrival of Jefferson Williams as their new coach in January 2017, the UEL Volleyball club have gone from strength to strength. Another high turnover of players during the summer just passed saw new names enter the frame, with only a few familiar faces remaining from last year.
Huge credit goes to Williams and assistant coach Ian Legrand, who have implemented their ideas and philosophies effectively in only a short space of time. Equally, the players deserve plaudits for how quickly they have bought into the recipe for success their coaches have created.
Previous Success
Each year, this ability to mould different groups of individuals into collective winners can only be a positive sign for UEL’s long-term success in BUCS competition. The confidence is infectious: Men’s player, Corey Pieper, speaking ahead of his side’s first home match of the season against Essex last Wednesday, said:
“As far as I know, the only team I know will be a tough challenge is Essex. It’ll be exciting to play them in a first official match. We’ve played them two or three times now, we’ve gone back and forth, but I think this time we’ll take care of it today.”
Similarly, the women’s team played Essex in the late tip-off at SportsDock. They too have seen a huge change in personnel with little more than three players remaining from the 2017-18 season. Former player, Allie Davenport, recently moved to Sweden to play professionally with success stories like this proving there is a pathway for progression.
Need for Investment
Volleyball’s image is beginning to change in England, and its popularity at UEL has grown significantly. One of several new additions to the women’s team, Katarina Boletou, called for government intervention to help grow the sport further:
“They can develop a lot, I see people that are willing to work for it. The government needs to put more money into the sport. The sport is not sponsored so well compared to the rest of Europe. However, there are people who are willing to work for it and make it better.”
Strong Start
Both sides have started the season in fine fashion, opening with straight set victories over the University of Bristol on October 3rd. Last week, in a double-header at SportsDock, the men’s and women’s team were forced to five sets in their respective clashes with Essex. After nearly five hours of intense play, both sides emerged victorious by three sets to two.
Today, the teams travel to Bournemouth where they will be looking to maintain their 100% records. Bournemouth have proven to be tough opponents in previous years and will be looking to keep the points down on the South Coast this time around.
