For some of the GBW, the club competitive season is over, but for others its BIG WEDNESDAY as the the business-end of their season has hit a climax…
France: Grace Carter’s TFOC v Calais
Grace Carter
Pro A League
Tonight Grace Carter’s TFOC take on 4th place Calais and a win would secure them a place in the Top French League next season. This would be a huge boost for the club on their first year playing in the Pro A. Continue reading
Belgium: Gea Happel Amigos won 3-0 v VHL Leuven
Palmer helps Amigos to another win
Gea Happel Amigos faced VHL Leuven this weekend. It was the last match of the league and Amigos were determined to finish on a high. The match started well for Amigos and they quickly took the lead. With good team play and strong attacking, Amigos won the first set. Set two was a similar story and Amigos found themselves 2 sets up. Then in the final set, Amigos always edged ahead but Leuven stayed with them and never gave up.
After a couple of unlucky calls from the ref and a bit of luck, Leuven fought there way to 24-24 but with a strong side out Amigos had a match point. The match finished with an ace from Amigos and a convincing 3-0 win. A great way to finish the season and a really great team performance. Now Amigos have two weeks hard training in preparation for the final of the Antwerp cup.
Finland: Pieksamaki Volley series vs Kappa Volley
Stacey O'Connor
Game 1: Pieksamaki won 3-0 (25-18, 25-13, 25-18)
Game 2: Pieksamaki won 3-0 (25-19, 25-17, 25-23)
Game 3: Pieksamaki won 3-2 (25-23, 23-25, 21-25, 25-23, 15-7)
After 3 matches, Pieksamaki Volley retains their spot in the top league, Mestaruusliiga . With 5 days to play 3 matches, Pieksamaki Volley was determined to win. The first two matches were won convincingly in 3, with the last match a little more intense with a 5 set win. The personnel on court changed for each match, giving Jr. players a chance to play.
“We started the season with a 5 set win, so why not end it with a 5 set win. Would have rather it gone to 3 but at the end of the day, we won and did it in front of our home crowd. I’m happy for the club because this result keeps the team in the league. I finished the season on a high, being awarded MVP for the last match.“
Germany:
VT Hamburg lost 3-1 v USC Munster in German Play-offs
Switzerland:
VBC Biel-Bienne won 3-2 v Toggenburg
Jen Thom
VBC Biel-Bienne played their last match of the season against Toggenburg at home. The match was up and down from both teams and it came down to the 5th set. Fortunately VBC Biel-Bienne started the 5th set well with a 10-5 lead. Toggenburg then came back and brought the score to 10-10. Luckily strong serving and stable blocking allowed Biel to finish the set and won it convincingly 15-11.
Jen’s comments: “This was so important to us to finally get a win and we have waited a long time for this. We do still finish 9th place in the league but to end on a positive was important for everyone. Great fight from the team and we did what we set out to do.”
Volley Koniz won 3-1 v Hotel Cristal VFM
Bertelli’s Volley Koniz were up against Hotel Cristal VFM in the fight for Bronze medal.
Bertelli one step closer to medal
Koniz started strong, showing the desire to win the match with only 1 point in it at both Technical Time Outs. A few unforced errors towards the end gave VFM the 1st set 21-25. In the second, strong serving and solid sideout meant the home team were comfortable throughout, despite a small comeback by VFM at the end Koniz took the 2nd set 25-20. After the 10 minute break, it was a similar picture with some great blocks from Koniz added to the mix to win 25-21 and lead the match 2-1. VFM responded, serving better and were leading 23-19 in the 4th. Koniz were not giving up so easily, strong serving backed up by some determined block defence levelled them at 23-23, it was then point for point, both teams going all out for the win with some awesome pick-ups and aggressive play at the net. Finally in front of the home fans Koniz won with a block point, followed by a huge hit, much to the delight of the home fans!
So, leading 1-0 in the best of 3 series, Koniz have the chance to take the Bronze on Wednesday night in VFM.
Spain:
CV Playa de las Canteras lost 3-0 v Universidade de Burgos
Beattie's Las Palmas
CV Playa de las Canteras travelled to the Mainland to take on 5th place Universidade de Burgos on Sunday. It was CV Playa de las Canteras who came out on top in the first encounter between the teams, which boosted the spirits of the Gran Canaria team going into the match with belief they could win. Burgos is renowned for being a difficult venue to play in, but with a good weeks training under their belt, the team from the Canary Islands went into the game full of confidence, despite their first libero out of action and the starting opposite filling in.
The first set started off well for Beattie’s team, with both teams neck and neck up until the second technical Time Out. It was at this point that Burgos strung a few good serves together which made the Las Palmas offence predictable, making it difficult to side out. Burgos took the first set 25-19.
Into the second set, the momentum was with Burgos and despite Las Palmas digging deep to close a points deficit on several occasions, they had no answer to the Burgos offence. Burgos took the second set 25-21.
The third set was a similar story with Burgos growing in strength with each point, taking the set and the match with a 25-17 win in the 3rd set.
Beattie comments on the match: ”It was a disappointing result after having gone into the match so positive, but all credit to the Burgos team. They played some good volleyball and were the best team on the day. This result now makes it very difficult for us to make the final four play offs, but it is not impossible.”
Valeriano Alles Menorca won 3-0 v Jamper Aguere
Lynne Beattie
Superliga, Spain
CV Las Palmas are back to winning ways and are looking to take another win this weekend as they travel to the North of Spain to play Universidade de Burgos, currently sitting one place above Las Palmas. With the Play offs still a possibility for both teams it is an important game, but with Las Palmas having won the first leg 3-1, they go into the match full of confidence that they can take all 3 points!
Following a 3-0 defeat at home, Janine Sandell’s Menorca will be looking to get back on track and try to regain that top spot in the league this weekend when they take on Jamper Aguere away from home.
Grace Carter
DEF & Pro A, France
On Wedsnesday Carter’s TFOC have their last season game, after a vital win last week, a win at home against 4th place Calais should keep the team safe in PRO A and a possible top 8 play-off spot. A loss will almost certainly mean relegation. Carter comments….. “it is the biggest game of the season and we are ready to take on Calais!”
Maria Bertelli
NLA & NLB, Switzerland
In Switzerland the play-off finals begin with Bertelli’s Volley Koniz playing for the bronze medal. On Sunday, they take on Franche Montagne at home in the best of 3 series. Bertelli comments…..”last week was a disappointment for everyone, there was a real feeling in the team that we had both the desire and the ability to beat NUC, we desperately wanted to make the Final but to be fair, NUC were the better team on the day. We can only look forward, the challenge is for us to respond, there is a medal at stake and we are determined to get it for ourselves and for the club. We have both won 2 matches against each other this season, so today should be a good game.”
Thom’s VBC Biel-Bienne play Toggenburg this weekend in their last match of the season. Thom comments…..”having lost to Toggenburg 3-1 last time we are hoping to change that around. We have had a good training week and with the season coming to a close we really have nothing to lose. We just want to play well and have some fun.”
Rachel Bragg
Bundesliga, Germany
The playoffs begin this weekend in Germany with Bragg’s 5th placed Aurubis Hamburg taking on 4th placed Munster at home. A home and away leg will be played with a possible golden set if games are tied. Both teams have picked up one win and one loss against each other during the season and both teams are very evenly matched.
Stacey O'Connor
Finland
O’Connor’s Pieksamaki Volley are back in action this week after having 3 weeks without matches. This week they take on Kappa Volley, a team all too familiar from pre-season tournaments, in a three match series which will determine Pieksamaki’s fate in the league. By winning all three, they will stay in the league for next season. On Wednesday night Pieksamaki beat Kappa in 3 and they are hoping to repeat this result tonight and again on Sunday.
Eres Divisie, Belgium
Palmer’s Gea Happel Amigos Zoersel have their last game of the regular season this weekend against Volley Haasrode Leuven.
The official London 2012 Team GB kit was launched at the Tower of London today. The kit, designed by world renowned fashion designer Stella McCartney in co-operation with Adidas, will be worn by over 600 athletes across 26 sporting disciplines.
It all started with wanting a new British look and feel for the athletes. Stella’s first move as Creative Director was to reinterpret the Union Flag in a modern way. “It’s one of the most beautiful flags in the world and I wanted to use that iconic image but dismantle it, soften it and break it down, make it more graphic and more fashionable”. Adidas Head of Design James Carnes agrees: “The design inspiration for Team GB was the idea of being untraditionally British”.
Stella’s design process has gone hand in hand with the Adidas newly pumped Powerweb and ClimaCool technologies, and their lightest ever swimsuits and footwear. So the athletes will not only look and feel great, they’ll go great too.
We are still waiting to see the GB Women’s kit but here are a few early thoughts from the players…
Libero Maria Bertelli says: “I think the kit looks great because it’s GB and seeing the different sports wearing it really brings out what the Olympics is about. I’d be just be so proud to wear anything that has the words Olympic and Team GB and a Union Jack in there somewhere.
GB Captain and outside hitter Lynne Beattie comments…
“I really like what i have seen so far… Its certainly different, but for me the design will allow Team GB to stand out from everyone else. Seeing the kit just gets me more excited about the summer ahead… and whatever colour or design it is, i will be proud to wear it, knowing what it stands for!”
Nicky Osborne, middle blocker thinks.. ”The new kit looks great… Smart, striking and makes me proud to be British to see the athletes today modelling it as one collective Team GB. Let the Games begin!”
Rachel Laybourne sums it up…”There has been some criticism today about how blue the new Olympic kit is. However, my opinion is that we are going to look unique and when the whole of Team GB are together we will look united and stand proud. Every athlete will know what sacrifices and hard work has gone into earning the right to wear that kit – regardless of what colours have been used in the design.”
France:
Carter’s TFOC won 3-2 v Nantes
Crucial win for TFOC
In the biggest game of the season so far, Carter’s TFOC faced 8th placed Nantes away. A win was needed to ensure they were still in the running to stay in PRO A and with a very tough game, they managed just that.
The first set was tight, with both teams playing solid side-out volleyball, but TFOC eventually took the set 27-29. TFOC had the momentum in the second with some strong serving and blocking, cruising to a 14-25 win.
But Nantes didn’t give up as the game was just as important to them, coming out strong to take the third 25-18, then despite an early lead for TFOC, Nantes served them off the court to take a 25-20 victory.
TFOC has been in many 5 set games this season, and that experience was the tipping point for the team, staying aggressive they took the final set and the game 13-15.
Carter commented: “This was a vital win for us, and a good team performance under great pressure. We still have a tough match ahead of us to guarantee our spot in PRO A, but we have shown that we are more than capable.”
Newton’s Quimper Volley won 3-1 v Tulle (25-16, 21-25, 25-16, 25-19)
Rachel Newton
Quimper had a great 3-1 win against Tulle this weekend. They now push 3 points ahead of second place Stade Francais, who still have a game in hand. Quimper came out strong in the first set, with good service and composure on court. In the second set Tulle put them under pressure in reception and their attack in the middle started to cause some trouble. In the third set, Quimper looked stronger and took a good lead from the start to the finish of the set. Tulle started to make errors, especially in reception. The fourth set was close at the start but Quimper attacked aggresively and looked in control of the game.
Rachel comments: ‘We had a better performance than the previous week and took the vital 3 points we wanted. Now we have two weeks to prepare for a big match away against St.Raphael and then Stade Francais which will both be difficult matches.’
Germany: Alemannia Aachen lost 3-0 v Wiesbaden
Ci Michel... blocking machine!
The final weekend of the German Bundesliga saw Wicks & Michel’s Aachen take on 7th placed Wiesbaden away from home. The game summed up Aachen’s season with numerous serving errors and instability in the serve receive unit making it difficult for the team to get into any rhythm. There were flashes of great play but unfortunately not enough and Aachen lost 3-0 (25-20, 25-20, 25-10). Aachen finished the season in 10th place, safe from relegation but out of the play off zone.
On completion of the regular season’s fixtures, our very own Ci Michel finished the season as the 2nd best blocker in the Bundesliga…what a result for Ciara and great news for GB for the summer ahead.
Switzerland:
Jen Thom’s VBC Biel-Bienne lost 3-0 v Dudingen (25-20, 25-23, 25-23)
VBC Biel-Bienne
VBC Biel-Bienne played Düdingen away on Sunday. It was yet another disappointing match for VBC Biel-Bienne.
Jen comments: “We definitely competed with Düdingen but it’s the same things that cost us the match. We had some really good plays but were unable to close the sets and as a team we lack confidence to win. With only one match left now we are all determined to change this and come out with a win.”
Osborne and Goulet’s VC Kanti Schaffhaussen lost 3-2 v Sagres NUC
VC Kanti schaffhausen played their last game of the season last Wednesday.
VC Kanti's Osborne and Goulet
Unfortunately, having lost the weekend before, a result either way would render them in 5th place and therefore done with playoffs. However, it was still an important match for both teams with opposition NUC needing crucial points and for Schaffhausen wanting to finish the season on a big high.
It ended with a five set thriller with Kanti fighting hard to come back in the fourth, but they were unable to maintain momentum in the fifth, ultimately losing 3-2.
Osborne commented: “A good fight in the last game of the season, although a shame we couldn’t sustain that for the fifth set. It was an enjoyable match to play and a great challenge against a tricky setter… A real shame not to make 2nd round of playoffs but this is the situation we now find ourselves in. Our team goal for the season was top 5. Maybe we could have done more, but we achieved that goal. Time now to reflect, remember some great moments, learn from the tough ones and bring the valuable assets back to GB!”
Bertelli’s Volley Koniz lost 3-1 v Sagres NUC
It was a huge week for Bertelli’s Volley Koniz in the Swiss NLA, after a 3-1 loss against league leaders Volero midweek, they were up against 2nd placed team Sagres NUC on Sunday…winner takes all, with ‘all’ being a place in the Play Off Final.
Bertelli comments…
Bertelli strong in Serve Receive for Koeniz
“Today was a huge game, the last game of the play-offs…we were in 3rd place going into the match against the 2nd placed team, NUC. We win the match 3-0 or 3-1 and we make the play off final. The atmosphere in the team before the match was different, I could sense a real belief and determination in the players. We have been ‘nearly’ a few times this season and I really felt today that this was our moment. The players had taken responsibility for knowing the opposition, what they do and how best we can counter that. That gave us a bit of added confidence, on top of the desire that was obvious.”
“We lost the first two sets 25-19 and 25-21, competing but then NUC seemed to raise their game and we didnt have answers. Knowing they were through to the final, NUC celebrated. It was like a kick in the teeth seeing them when I really believed we would be the team that made it through. Luckily, we had a 10 minute break that enabled us to gather our thoughts and there was still an opportunity to win a match. We responded and won the 3rd comfortably 18:25. The 4th was a similar story to the 1st and 2nd, losing 25:20.”
“We now play a best of 3 series for 3rd place, there is a medal to be won!”
Spain:
Beattie CV Las Palmas won 3-0 v Cuestra Piedra Santa Cruz
Beattie receives for Las Palmas
On paper this match was due to be a comfortable win for the home Las Palmas Team, but having lost their 3 matches previously, Las Palmas were lacking the confidence they had in the first half of the season, so they knew this would be a crucial game to win in order to regain some momentum with an outside chance of a play off position still on the cards.
In the first set, the nerves were apparent for Las Palmas, but mid-way through the set, the nerves disappeared and they began to show the volleyball they were capable of. Beattie took control of the set through tough serving that the young Tenerife team couldn’t handle resulting in a 25-15 win. It was a similar story in the second and third set with Las Palmas winning 25-12 and 25-9, taking a 3-0 win and a confidence boost into the remainder of the season with everything still to play for.
Beattie - Superliga's best server of the week
Beattie commented: “It was a match that could have gone either way for us, after struggling in recent matches, but we showed a strength of character to take the game to Cuestra Piedra. We weren’t complacent despite it being a game we should win easily and we were clinical in everything we did. This result gives us all the confidence we need going into the remaining 5 matches of the season and we continue to remain hungry for a top 4 play-off spot!”
Sandell’s Valeriano Alles Menorca lost 3-0 v Murillo
Belgium: Palmers Gea Happel Amigo’s won 3-1 v Volley de Haan
GB Women’s Head Coach and Olympian Audrey Cooper has been chosen as one of the torchbearers of the London 2012 Olympic Torch as part of its journey across the world on it’s way to lighting the Olympic Flame at the Opening Ceremony on 27th July 2012.
The Olympic Flame will come within 10 miles of 95% of people in the UK, Isle of Man, Guernsey and Jersey and will enable local communities to shine a light on the best their area has to offer.
The London 2012 Olympic Torch design features 8,000 small cut-out circles, representing the 8,000 inspirational people who will carry it on its journey around the UK over 70 days between 19 May – 27 July 2012. Audrey is one of 7 ‘volleyball’ torchbearers and will carry the Torch during the Loughborough leg on Tuesday 3rd July.
The strapline of the Torch Relay is a ‘Moment to Shine’ with the torchbearers demonstrating the Olympic spirit is alive and well across the UK. The nomination programmes run by Locog, Coca-Cola, Lloyds TSB and Samsung earlier this year focused on recognising and rewarding people with a story of personal achievement and or contribution to the local community.
Heralding from Whitburn Scotland, Audrey has been involved in volleyball for over 35 years, 25 as an athlete and 11 as a coach. She has not only achieved phenomenal success but also ‘given back’ to the sport she loves.
As a junior player, she competed in Scotland, moving South to England to develop her game where she played for Hillingdon and then competed for over 18 years as setter for London Malory, captain for the last 10 years. Internationally, Cooper competed for over 20 years - indoor and beach – Scotland Junior & Senior, England Senior, GB.
On the sand she remains GB’s most successful pairing with Amanda ‘Mo’ Glover having competed on the FIVB Beach Volleyball World Series tour (1993-2000) consistently ranked in the World’s top 20. Her ultimate highlight was qualifying for, and representing GB, at the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games exceeding all expectations (18 teams, seeded 13th, finished 9th). Other key success include 9th place in the World Championships and 3rd in the European Championships.
Towards the end of her playing career, Audrey started coaching and quickly made the step to international level, first as Assistant and then Head Coach of the England Senior Women’s Indoor National Team. In 2006, she moved to Sheffield to take the role of GB Indoor Volleyball Assistant Coach in December, subsequently becoming head coach in 2009. Despite huge funding issues, Audrey is driving the GB Women’s programme to new heights, determined to leave a legacy in the sport.
Legacy is also important from a coaching perspective and to support this, Audrey has undertaken the role of mentor for a number of UK coaches in both volleyball and other sports and has been recruited by UK Sport to assist with the delivery of their Elite Coach Apprenticeship Programme.
The Olympic Flame unites the world, travelling across all continents and Cooper says she is ‘honoured to have been nominated and looking forward to playing a small part in the Flame’s journey to London, alongside some inspirational torchbearers’. We congratulate Audrey on recognition of her contribution to our sport and hope she enjoys this unique and fabulous opportunity. See some awesome pictures of the history of the torch relay here.
We will have an in-depth interview with Audrey later this week where she tells us her thoughts about the big summer ahead, the challenges and opportunities for her as head coach, what its like being an Olympian and what she’s been doing in the not-so-off-season! In the meantime, if you want to know what the Torch Relay is all about, check out this highlights video from Athens 2004….
