Home semi-finals secured for blazing Blades sides

Home semi-finals are secured for two student sports teams after triumphant championship clashes.

Essex will host the men’s volleyball side and the women’s basketball team as they fight for places in the final of the British Universities and Colleges Sport competition.

Both sides won their fixtures against Edinburgh University on Wednesday and are now preparing for the final push to the pinnacle of student sport.

Our men’s volleyball side sunk Edinburgh 3-0 and our women’s basketball team won 81-53.

Last year’s finalists Durham will face off against the basketball team and our men’s volleyball side will play the University of East London on March 8th on the Colchester Campus.

Susy Davies, Performance Sport Manager at Essex Sport, said: “I am incredibly proud of all of the performance sports teams and their commitment to excellence this season.

“Each team has shown their dedication week in and week out to achieve their own goals and fight for their team.

“The men’s volleyball team and women’s basketball team have once again proven the University is the number one sporting institution in the East of England.

“I look forward to cheering them on in the semi-finals, where I hope we can repeat last year and both teams reach the BUCS Championship final.”

Sadly not all of the Blades sides managed to win this week with our women’s volleyball side losing to Nottingham University away.

The men’s basketball team were within three points of victory until the last minute in their game against Newcastle University.

Finally, our women’s football team lost 2-1 against Northumbria – but incredibly they reached the play-offs in their first year of promotion to the premier league.

Susy added: “I am so proud of all our teams but I am especially pleased with our women’s football team.

“Having been promoted to the BUCS Premier League this season they have shown incredible determination to compete and succeed at the highest level.”