As far as the Student Cup is concerned this year, the ladies are already in the finals. That's thanks to their amazing performance over the past year, becoming finalists after an eventful morning…

12 medals for Women's Blues at Volleyball England Student Cup

On February 12th 2012 the Cambridge Women's Blues returned from the Volleyball England (VE) Student Cup Finals in Norwich with 12 runners-up medals. These were stoically earned in victorious battles on and off the court, having faced a car crash, road closures, a quarterfinal with key players absent and the highest standards of volleyball in the country.

What was to become a historic day for the Women's University squad started with a car accident on Cambridge's Newmarket Road. Both the Women's and Men's teams fell victim to the black ice that had formed on the roads that morning, along with up to thirty other drivers in the county, according to police reports. To make matters worse, while part of the squad was regrouping at the site of the collision, the team's two setters, libero and one outside hitter were blocked on the A14, which was closed in both directions following a deadly accident. Quick decisions were in order if the team was to pursue its hope of finally obtaining a medal in the prestigious competition.

Never before had a Cambridge University Women's Volleyball Team played the final of the VE Student Cup. Having easily qualified for the quarterfinals, and observed the opposition during Saturday's games, the girls knew that under normal circumstances they had a winning hand. This was supposed to be their year: their chance to be the best out of thirty-two top University and college teams from across the country. But would that still be the case after a late arrival, under the shock of the collision, with an incomplete squad?

When coach Jean Jacquet, knowing that all odds were against the Blues, said “The next train leaves in 20 minutes”, the unanimous response was “Can we still make it?”; which translated to “How can we get to the train station?”, “Will they postpone our game until we get there?” and “Is there any point going without any setters and libero?”.

As it turned out, the motto of the day was to be “Yes we can”. The Blues sprinted onto the Norwich train two minutes before its departure. The Volleyball England Cup organizers postponed the second quarterfinal of the day so that Cambridge could face Northumbria, a strong opposition who had eliminated them in the 2011 competition. The seven players who made it turned a humiliating first set (which went 25-12 in favour of Northumbria)  into an empowering win: 25-21; 15-12. Things then took a turn for the better: the rest of the squad arrived in time for the semi-final against Bath and confidently secured the well-deserved medal. Finally, all remaining energy was devoted towards a spectacular final, won by University of London Union in a close battle (25-23; 29-27), which gained the Light Blues dozens of unexpected, enthusiastic supporters.

The end of the day saw a triumphant squad which had achieved a record performance for Cambridge University Volleyball. They had overcome adverse circumstances through determination, perseverance and team-play. The Light Blues are now looking forward to Varsity, to take place in Oxford on the February 24th, as well as to the British Universities and College Sports Championships, scheduled for mid-March in Sheffield. “This is only the beginning”, says captain Barbora Doslikova, “We have just put Cambridge back on the student volleyball map, and we are determined to continue our journey, representing Cambridge at the highest national and perhaps even international level. We have a talented, devoted and passionate squad. What is still on our wish list is more recognition and support for our performance and the sport we love.”

Squad members: Katharina Bitzan, LeAnn Canady, Debbie (Bin) Deng, Barbora Doslikova (capt), Maria Anna Monnheimer, Anne Ernst, Ariane Hanssum, Electra Panagoulia, Alice Pei-Shan Hsieh (vice-capt), Xenia Oshmian, Petra Catalina Schwalie, Christiana Smyrilli, Josephine Socratous, Ana Tufegdzic Vidakovic, Cindy Woods

Coach: Jean Jacquet

For more information about the team, competitions, news and sponsorship information, see Cambridge University Volleyball Club website http://www.srcf.ucam.org/cuvc/index.php

The Cambridge Team would like to thank the police officer that dealt with the collision case, the Cambridge Men's Blues Team and the VE Student Cup organizers for their help, support and understanding without which this result would not have been possible.