Student Cup Finals Day 2

The women’s competition was set to be a thriller as defending champions UCL were looking to regain their title but found London rivals Kings College London first barring their way.  

Kings had made it into the quarter-finals as runner up of Pool C after a strong showing against Northumbria and the University of Sheffield, but missed out on the top spot to Oxford, who went unbeaten in the pool.  

But they knew it would be an added challenge against UCL, a whole league higher than them in BUCS, and so it proved as the holders took the game in straight sets 2-0 (25-10, 25-16).  

Oxford, meanwhile, had a tough quarter-final which went to three sets against Loughborough Students, where they took the first set but saw their opponents battle back to level it up at 1-1. 

However, it was slightly too much for the Midlands side in the end and missed out on a place in the semi-finals, losing the decider 15-10.  

Warwick - who featured a couple of Coventry and Warwick Riga’s Super League players - took on last year’s runners-up, Cambridge, in the quarter-finals. 

Knowing the level would be high Cambridge came out swinging hard and pushed Warwick all the way, but Warwick just missed out in the first set, going down 25-22. 

The West Midlands uni smelt blood and were slightly more comfortable in winning the second 25-19.  

That set up a match for them against UCL – who had yet to drop a set – and they weren’t about to let their latest opponents run that run. 

In the end, the power and height of UCL was just too much for Warwick and they ran out confident 2-0 winners (25-16, 25-13).  

One team that had gone under the radar were Trinity College Dublin who had edged to victories in their Saturday pool matches, where two of their three games going to three sets.  

A tricky pool of Warwick, Leeds and Cardiff saw the Irish team finish on top with three wins from three, even if they were not always convincing. 

They took on Bath in the quarter finals who had finished second in Pool B, who in a similar vein, had experienced two three setters in their pool. 

Both teams would have been looking for a quick match, but it was to be another that went the distance. 

Bath took the first set 25-19, but Trinity then pushed back hard in the second, comfortably taking it 25-12.  

The final set decider was nip and tuck all the way before the Dubliners edged it 17-15.  

As Trinity faced Oxford in the semi-finals, both teams did so already knowing the victors would meet UCL in the final.  

Oxford stamped their authority on the first set to win it 25-22, but Trinity hadn’t travelled for 13 hours to get to the venue to give in that easily. 

They hit back in the second set, snatching it 26-24 and this gave them the momentum to seal a final berth by winning the decider 15-9. 

In the final, both teams were looking to make history, with UCL seeking to be the first team to win back-to-back titles since Durham in 2014, 2015 and 2016 and Trinity looked to be the first team from Ireland to win since University College Dublin in 2008. 

With great support for both teams UEA Sport Park was rocking as UCL took the first set 25-19.  

Some exceptional pick-ups and high-flying spikes from both teams made it a feast on the eyes for those watching.  

However, there was no denying UCL, who completed the weekend without dropping a single set to win second set 25-15 and, with it, retain their crown. 

Trinity made the trip back across the Irish Sea with the consolation of Outside Pierce Woodall winning MVP for her display in the final.  

The men’s competition had a lot to live up to with UCL looking to complete the women and men’s double, repeating the success of Bournemouth in 2022.  

UCL played Leeds 1 in their quarter final after Leeds finished second in Pool D, which also contained winners Oxford, Anglia Ruskin and Galway. 

The London side were pushed all the way after Leeds took the opener 25-23, but they finished strongly to come through 25-15, 15-5 in the second and deciding sets.  

This meant that UCL would meet the winners of the quarter-final between last year’s winners Northumbria and University of Sussex, and it was the former who came through in a nailbiter, winning the decider 15-12 after losing the first 25-23 but then bouncing back to clinch the second 25-20. 

Oxford took on Cardiff who, despite finishing second in Pool B had put in strong performancse against UCL, Durham and Warwick in their pool.  

And it was the Welsh spirit which shone through as they took the match 2-1 after dropping the first set.  

Cardiff would then face Imperial College London (ICL) after they claimed victory against Cambridge Blues in what was another brilliant three-set match. 

ICL had taken the first set 25-18 but were rocked when Cambridge levelled after edging the second set 29-27. 

In the final set tie break, it was the London side who held their nerve to win it 15-12.  

The match between Northumbria and UCL was always going the be a huge game and, with their court running behind, it allowed a large crowd to watch some of the highest levels of university volleyball take place.  

The first set was to and fro before UCL took it 25-22 and it seemed to knock the stuffing out of Northumbria who also went down in the second set 25-16.  

ICL wanted to join their London rivals in the final and all that stood between them and UCL was a passionate Cardiff, still boosted from their comeback victory against Oxford.  

ICL started as they meant to go on with the first set going their way 25-18, but Cardiff fought tooth and nail in the second set and it was a relieved BUCS Premier League side who used all their experience to wrap up victory with a 27-25 win in the second set. 

The all-London final of ICL taking on UCL was always going to be passionate and hard-fought – and so it proved. 

With UCL riding the wave of their club-mates winning the women’s trophy, they came out hyped and ready. 

And as ICL’s outside Michal Fedorowicz pulled up injured, UCL capitalised to clinch the first set 25-14. 

At that point, they had the winners’ trophy in their sights, but Imperial reckoned differently and dominated the second set 25-19 to steal the roar of the crowd.  

The stage was set for a final set decider and it was ICL who came out swinging, with Richmond’s Thomas Dale playing some unbelievable points to have the crowd on their feet.  

At the switch of ends, all was still to play for, but it was Imperial who came out on top 15-11 to ensure they clinched the 2024 title and, with it, make amends for their 2022 final defeat to Bournemouth.

MVP was Jonathan Drysdale-Anderson from UCL.

Live streams of a range of games including both Finals can be viewed via Volleyball Engalnd’s YouTube Channel here. 

Videos and clips of the weekend action can be found on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.

Full standings of the weekends action can be viewed here.