​National Shield preview (27th and 28th January)

Leicester Athena are one of two NVL Division 1 teams in the women’s competition who will be optimistic of making it all the way through to Cup Finals Weekend on 20th and 21st April. 

The first step on the road if they are to do that will be to win on the road at a Newcastle Staffs team who are flying high in Division 3 Central with a 7-1 record, sitting top. 

The other Division 1 side, Richmond, come into the match in fine form having defeated previously-unbeaten Wessex and Southampton last weekend. 

To make the last four of the Shield, they will have to win at London Premier League side London Bears, who have made it through from the second round at the expense of SQUAD and MK City. 

The only second team left in the competition, Leeds Gorse 2, make the short trip to York Falcons for a West Yorkshire derby. 

While the visitors play at a higher level week in, week out (Division 2 North as opposed to Division 3 North), it is the hosts who have the better playing record in 2023-24 (5-1, compared to 2-7) so it should make for a competitive fixture. 

The all-Division Three South East clash between Reading Aces and Onyx London pairs two sides who have lost just one league match between them this season. 

The hosts have a 3-1 record while their opponents are bidding to replicate their league form where they are unbeaten in eight matches. 

The winning quarter-finalists will go forward to play in the semi-finals on Sunday 25th February. 

The highest-ranked team left in the men’s competition in terms of NVL position is Division 1’s bottom side Coventry and Warwick Riga. 

They will take on Berkshire Volleyball Association side Oxford, whose impressive run has carried them through from the first round back in November. 

Wigan Seahawks and Manchester InterVolley are familiar opponents in Division Three North West, where they sit fourth and fifth respectively, 

But it is the hosts who have much the better record (7-1 compared to 3-4) which could eventually see them challenge for the title, and they will start as favourites in this encounter. 

Another non-NVL side, SQUAD, have been rewarded for their victory over Tamworth Spartans in the previous round with a home tie against Spelthorne Lions. 

The Surrey-based Division 2 South side have four league wins and only one defeat to their name in the season so far.

 The final men’s match sees Exeter Storm, of Division Two South, take on a third non-NVL club in Team Sideout. 

The Devon club beat their title rivals who are unbeaten in the league, Bristol, in the previous round and will be keen to build on their 6-1 record at that level as they bid to secure a place in the last four. 

Semi-final matches for the winning four teams will take place on Saturday 4th February. 

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