NVL Preview 3rd and 4th February

Women’s Division 1 has all 10 teams in action, with MK City hosting London Inter Crocs as both teams seek to move out of the two bottom places in the league.   

Stockport face Everton Belugas after both sides were victorious last time out in respective matches against Dartford Chargers.  

The Cheshire side have won two of their last three games with their last defeat coming to Wessex in a closely-contested five setter 3-2 (25-20, 14-25, 25-14, 20-25,15-9). 

In their first game of 2024, Bristol take on struggling Dartford, who are winless in their last three games. 

The South West club lost out 3-0 to high-flyers Wessex in their last game back in December and only time will tell if their recent lack of game time will have been a hindrance or a help. 

On Sunday, first and third place are in action with leaders Wessex hosting Southampton while Richmond welcome Leicester Athena to the Kingston College Arena. 

Richmond are undefeated in their last league four matches and, since their 3-2 win over London Inter Crocs on the ninth December, they have not dropped a set.  

Wessex, meanwhile, will be looking to extend their lead over Stockport at the top as any slip-up from the South Coast club could see them lose their summit position. 

In Division 2 North, Urmston Grammar are the only team in action with Everton Narwhals looking to make up for their recent narrow defeat against Manchester Marvels Meyhem.  

The Liverpudlians have played three more matches than Urmston and sit fourth, but have only won one of their previous three matches.  

An Oxford versus Cambridge match on Sunday in Division 2 Central sees Oxford Eagles host Rhinos Cambridge.  

With the home side being the only team in the top three to be in action this weekend, they have the chance to snatch the top spot from Essex Trinity, albeit having played two more matches.  

Richmond 2 have a double header over the weekend with journeys to Bedminster and Bristol on the cards.  

A double victory for them could see them top the table come Sunday evening, dethroning Team South Wales.  

A triangular of Liverpool, York Falcons and Leeds Gorse 3 look to boost their position in Division 3 North, with the latter bidding to claim their first victory of the season.  

For York, they will be looking to build on their 3-1 National Shield victory lasy weekend over Leeds’s second team.  

Ashfield Vipers, Wombourne and Black Country 2 also take part in a triangular this weekend in Division 3 Central. 

Wombourne will have the potential to finish the weekend just one point behind third place Black Country.  

There are also two triangulars in Division 3 South East with Sussex Dolphins, Tendring and Darford Chargers all going head to head and Richmond 3, Essex Estonians and Reading Aces facing off. 

Only four teams are in men’s Division 1 in action this weekend with Black Country looking to bounce back from their National Cup heartbreak last weekend against the University of Nottingham which saw them lose 3-2 after leading by two sets.   

They take on the in-form London Giants, who are only one point behind them in the league with one game in hand.  

Fifth place Weymouth Beach take on first place Essex Blaze, with the latter having only lost one match all season against play-off rivals Black Country.  

Weymouth will be able to swap places with London Giants if results go their way this weekend, which would put them back in the play-off conversation.  

Leaders Bristol are at home this weekend in Division 2 South, with Guildford International making the long trip west.  

It will be a tricky match for the visitors who have only won one of their last three games, while Bristol remain unbeaten in the league this season and have only dropped one set per match on average.  

Spelthorne Lions take on second place Exeter Storm, who will be keen to keep up the pressure on their rivals as they sit only one point behind.  

Two matches in Division 3 North Central see Black Country Men 2 host Darkstar Derbyshire 2 and Leeds Gorse 2 travel to Sheffield 2.  

Darkstar will be looking for their first victory,but know it will be difficult against an in-form Black Country 2 who have four wins from their last five matches.  

Essex Estonians will also be up against in when they host Northampton in Division 3 South East as the Midlanders top the table with a 10-1 record. 

Essex are five points clear of London Wildcats below them, but they will want to finish the weekend level on points with Tendring who sit seventh.  

Keep up to date with all the action via our social media on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok. 

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Cover image: JuicyVolleyball