Student sport stars win leagues with games to spare

Student sports stars won top titles for Essex – before the season has even ended. 

Incredibly the men’s volleyball team and the women’s basketball side have won the Premier League South with a game to spare.

Both teams are now through to the British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS) Championship finals and secure vital home draws.

The men’s basketball side also secured third and a home draw in the BUCS Championships last 16.

Away from the battles inside The Essex Sport Arena, on our Colchester Campus, the women’s football team beat last year’s title holders Cardiff 10-1.

They have finished a fantastic 2nd on their first-ever season in the premier league and secured a home fixture in the BUCS championships.

And our women’s tennis team remain top of the Tier 1 contest and are in contention for a play-off for promotion to the BUCS premier south.

Director of Sport, Dr Dave Parry, said: "This season saw five Essex teams in the BUCS Premier Division for the first time, with the increasing number further evidence of our growing reputation as a sporting institution.

"To have all these teams complete the season in top positions shows how our commitment to excellence is producing results.“

"Our volleyball and basketball teams continue to lead the way as leading programmes in the U.K.

"Joining them this year for the first time, our women's football team had a remarkable season.

"They recovered from losing three of the first four games to go unbeaten for the rest of the season, climbing to second place in the league.

"Alongside our status as the FA women's high-performance centre, the results of the team show that our standing in the game is really growing.

"Fingers crossed for all the teams entering the Championship playoffs!"