U16 Junior Grand Prix #3 Review (17th and 18th January 2026)

The girls' matches took place on Sunday (18th January 2026), made up of 24 teams. 

Gold Pool A was hosted by Newcastle Staffs, which was a tight pool with clubs renowned for producing strong junuor teams battling it out. 

Urmston Grammar A won two of their matches against MK City, and South Bucks, winning both of them 2-0, but suffered a close defeat to hosts, Staffs A by a 2-1 scoreline, with the final set going to 15-8. 

South Bucks beat MK City 2-0 and Newcastle Staffs A in a a three setter match, but lost to Urmston Grammar A 28-26, 25-22. 

Staffs A had a similar experience, beating MK City and Urmston Grammar A, but couldn't defeat South Bucks in the final set, losing 15-10. 

As a result, the final standings came down to 'sets for' and 'sets against', with MK City placing fourth, South Bucks third, Newcastle Staffs A second, and Urmston Grammar A first. 

Sevenoaks School hosted Gold Pool B, which saw another series of competitive matches. 

Similar to Pool A, the overall outcome was far from clear-cut because teams were so closely matched. 

Richmond A eventually finished first thanks to their superior set difference (3) after beating Wapping Wildcats and Sevenoaks School 2-0 before losing narrowly to The Boswells School 2-1, going down 15-12 in the final set. 

The Boswells School placed second (set difference 2) after beating Richmond A and Sevenoaks School, but being defeated 2-1 by Wapping Wildcats. 

Third place went to Wapping Wildcats (set difference 1) after defeating Sevenoaks School and The Boswells School, but being on the wrong end of a 2-0 scoreline against Richmond A. 

Sevenoaks School were fourth after some tough matches and close sets, claiming 14 Grand Prix Series points in the process. 

Ashfield Vipers hosted Silver Pool C, which saw Bristol dominate the pool, winning three of their matches, to take 16 Grand Prix Series points. 

Hosts, Ashfield Vipers, followed closely behind in second after losing to the top team 2-1, but winning their other two matches 2-0. 

Thames Valley came in third after losing to the top two before digging deep to beat fourth place Manchester Marvels 25-20, 25-20. 

Silver Pool D was hosted by Ashcombe Dorking, where Malory Eagles placed top of the table after winning all their games in straight sets. 

The hosts ended as runners-up after losing 2-0 to Malory Eagles, but beating Richmond B and South Hants 2-0. 

South Hants suffered defeats to the top two placing teams, but hit back to beat Richmond B 25-17, 25-21 in the battle for third and fourth. 

Bronze Pool E was also hosted by Ashcombe, with Westminster finishing at the summit winning all three matches, but they were taken to three swets by second-placed side Team Sideout before coming out on top 15-8 in the deciding set. 

Despite their loss, Team Sideout beat Weymouth 2-0 and Wessex 2-1 to secure 10 Grand Prix Series points. 

It was between Weymouth and Wessex for the last two positions, with the former beating the latter 2-1.

Leeds Gorse hosted Bronze Pool F and finishing second in the table after edging two close 2-1 matches against Hull Thunder and ENVC, but going down 2-0 to Newcastle Staffs B. 

The Potteries club were victorious in all their matches by a 2-0 margin to ensure their top position, claiming 12 Grand Prix Series points. 

ENVC placed third after battling performances against the top two and then overcoming Hull Thunder in a thrilling three set match, winning 15-12. 

The boys' matches took place on Saturday (17th January 2026) and featured 26 teams across six pools. 

Gold Pool A was hosted by Leeds Gorse Orange, which showcased some great volleyball across the board. 

Urmston Grammar A won two of their matches against Leeds Gorse Orange and Team Sideout 2-0, butnarrowly lost to Monkseaton in a close 2-1 match, which went to 15-13 in the final set. 

Leeds Gorse Orange also triumphed twice, beating Team Sideout and Monkseaton, but being defeated by Urmston Grammar A. 

The top two positions in the table therefore came down to 'sets for', with Urmston Grammar A grabbing the top position (3), with Leeds Gorse Orange in second (1). 

In third and fourth, both Monkseaton and Team Sideout both won one match and lost two, with the North East club -1) having a slightly better set difference than the Londoners (-3). 

The Boswells School hosted Gold Pool B, which saw Wessex storm through their matches to head up the table. 

Richmond Falcons won two out of their three matches against London Lynx and The Boswells School in a nail-biting match, winning the final set decider 15-13. 

Hosts The Boswells School came in third after losing their two matches 2-1, but were victorious against fourth place London Lynx, winning 2-0. 

Silver Pool C was hosted by Newcastle Staffs, who finished as runners-up after overcoming Urmston Grammar B and and AST Academy A, but falling short against Bristol, losing 2-1. 

And it was the West Country club who clinched top spot after their close match against Staffs following convincing successes against Urmston Grammar B and AST Academy A.

Third place went to Urmston Grammar B after losing two of their matches, but geeting the better of fourth placed, AST Academy A, 25-20, 25-20. 

Silver Pool D had six teams, which was divided into two pools of three teams. 

Pool A was made up of Dartford, who lost both their matches 2-1, Sevenoaks, who beat Dartford, and South Bucks, who beat both. 

Pool B saw South Hants win both their matches, Richmond Hawks beat London Giants and lost to South Hants, and London Giants edged out in both their matches 2-0.

Once the pool play was completed, teams competed in cross-over play offs, with Richmond Hawks beating South Bucks in straight sets in one of the semi-finals, and South Hants defeating Sevenoaks School in a close 2-1 match in the other.

The final saw Richmond Hawks against South Hants, with the London side grabbing a thrilling 2-1 triumph, winning 15-8 in the third set. 

As a result, the final standings were: Richmond Hawks first, South Hants second, South Bucks third, Sevenoaks School fourth, London Giants fifth, Dartford sixth. 

Bronze Pool E was hosted by Thames Valley, where Willesden Knights came up trumps, not dropping a set in their three matches. 

Thames Valley came in second after losing to the hosts, but beimng too strong for Worthing Lions and Winchester Eagles. 

Worthing Lions placed third after beating fourth placed Winchester Eagles 27-25, 25-13.

Bronze Pool F was hosted by Team Medway, who fell short of the top position after winning two of their matches, including a close battle against MK City B, winning 18-16 in the deciding set. 

First place went to Wapping Wildcats A who were on fire in winning all three of their matches without dropping a set. 

Third and fourth place was between MK City B and Deep Dish Crystal Palace, with MK the former having the edge in by defeating the South London team 25-20, 25-20.