News

The minutes for the 2022 AGM are now available at the link below. Thanks to everyone who attended.

Norwich Spikers will be holding their AGM followed by a BBQ on Saturday 13th July at 6pm, partners and +1's are welcome. If you are planning on attending then please respond to the Facebook event or contact Emily Keel so that we can rough idea on numbers.

Playoffs are always a nervous affair. It can have you elated over gaining promotion or it can throw up heartache in a moment. Fortunately Spikers maintained their superb momentum from the season and managed to gain promotion through a convincing victory over Leeds RGA Panthers. The girls have every right to lap up all of the plaudits that we can give them.
 
After their heart-breaking loss in the final and title deciding game of the season against would-be champions, Leicester Athena, the team might be forgiven for any kind of lapse in performance during the play-offs. This was never the case as, quite rightly so, the girls turned the negatives from that match into positives and kept their focus on the prize at hand – and it paid off in spectacular fashion.
 
Leeds were trounced 3-0 (25-15, 25-19 and 25-12) in what appeared to be a very lacklustre performance, given that their warm-up play looked so strong.
 
Division 2 will provide some stiff competition for the girls next season, but on the basis that they carry their in-season form with them, and given some early pre-season training, no doubt that they will all be able to raise the level of their game, just as they’ve raised our own spirits over these past few months.
 
Congratulations on a sublime season ladies!

With probably the most important weekend of the season gone, the ladies will reflect on a mixed day where they took a fantastic opening win against Coventry and Warwick Riga, but then lost against Leicester Athena in what was the game to determine which of the two sides finishes top this season.
 
Norwich opened their day with a 3-0 win defeating Coventry in sublime form taking the match 28-26, 25-15 and 25-12. Georgia was named MVP in both this great warm-up game and for what would then be a league deciding game against an in-form Leicester side.
 
Unfortunately, their opponents were just too organised in both defence and attack and managed to take the match 3-0 at 25-11, 25-13 and 25-22. Spikers played to their very best, but Leicester have been magnificent all season long and used that momentum to overcome our girls.
 
As the ladies season draws to a conclusion, Norwich should be delighted with what they’ve accomplished this season as they welcome a potential play-off place with the aim of promotion to Division 2.
 
This is a culmination of the hard work from each and every player, and you should all be very proud of yourselves indeed.

Following on from their game during Valentine’s week, unfortunately our lads just could not woo lady luck as they were beaten 3-0 by York VC.
 
Nigel was awarded the MVP as the boys had one of those days where they couldn’t seem to sync up with each other. We are used to them performing wonderfully during each match, regardless of the end result, but, sadly, the scoreline of what was probably an “ok” performance read: 21-25, 19-25, 15-25.
 
Apart from the final set where the boys maybe lost some concentration, the scoreline for the first two sets doesn’t make for such bad reading and perhaps there was just tougher mental resilience from York VC on the day.
 
Hindsight can be your best friend or your greatest enemy within the game of volleyball. It’s too easy to say, “well, what if we had done this”, but that’s going to change nothing. You analyse what went wrong, where any weaknesses lie and you move onto the next opponent.
 
So, heads up lads, put this one behind you and get back to giving us those wonderful performances that we all love from you.

Love is in the air for a certain group of Norwich ladies.
 
Cupid’s arrow struck the NVL ladies team and their love for the game saw them stroll through their first match against Loughborough Students and then following up with a well-deserved victory over Nottingham Rockets.
 
The morning game was faultless with the girls taking a 3-0 victory (25-11, 25-21 and 25-18) as Sarah-Jane was named MVP. The afternoon session saw a tougher opponent, however, the girls managed to build upon their momentum from the first match to defeat Nottingham 3-1. In a fantastic game, the set scoreline reads 25-18, 27-25, 20-25, 25-17 where Manuela was named the MVP.
 
The second set reflected how much the ladies maintained their composure during the game, but they lost focus in the third as they struggled to complete a whitewash of their opponent. Coming out with a new mindset for the fourth set, Norwich took control of the game and never released their grip as they closed out the match in sublime fashion.
 
Next up is a home round of matches including a big test against an in-form Leicester Athena team who sit third in the table. If Leicester are naming themselves after the Greek goddess of war, then this is one battle that Norwich are ready for, and fully intend to win.

The Spikers men’s team were at home against Stockport Volleyball Club at the weekend and were very unfortunate to be on the receiving end of a 3-1 loss. As always, the team put in a great performance and the score of each set was very tight, but unfortunately they were unable to close out the games and sometimes that’s all this beautiful game boils down to.
 
Stockport took the first set at 23-25, whilst our boys managed the second set with a 25-20 victory. The visitors, however, continued to hold their nerve as they closed out the match taking the third and fourth set at 23-25 and 22-25 respectively.
 
Pooria was named as MVP putting in another stand-out performance and thanks to the line judges, scorers and referee for giving up their time.
 
This season, the guys have been unfortunate on a number of occasions where they have played brilliantly but have been unable to get a firm grip on a set to put it to bed.
 
Lady luck always plays a part in volleyball, so this Valentine’s day, maybe we can woo her in the hope that she throws some victories our way.
 
Watch this space to find out if the courtship was a success!

So, a New Year’s resolution of blowing the competition away seems to be on the cards for the girls as they took wins from both of their first matches of 2019.
 
Playing at home, Spikers were up against Ashfield and Northampton. Ashfield provided a test for the ladies as Norwich took the first set 25-16, but lost the second 17-25. It was a return to form in the third as our girls won it at 28-26 and the final set proved just how well they can maintain their composure as they took the match with a result of 25-14 in the fourth set beating them 3-1.
 
In the second match, Northampton had nothing they could throw at Spikers that they couldn't handle. Clearly they ran out of ideas as to how to best Norwich losing 3-0 with the score line reading 25-15, 25-22 and 25-16. Spikers played to their strengths using a variety of attacking flair to close the door on any chance of a comeback for Northampton.
 
Agnieszka Kowalska was named as MVP in the first match with Stefania Merlin the MVP in the second. Thanks goes out to the referees, line judges and scorers for providing their time to assist.
 
If nothing else, then this is one resolution that you all need to maintain for the rest of the season, so keep up the great work ladies and here's looking forward to continued success throughout the remainder of the season.

Twas the period before Christmas and all through the weekend,
volleyball was played by teams of NVL men.
 
Spikers were paired with the DARKSTAR of Derby,
who would take the match win and prove very hardy.
 
3-1 was the score in this tale of two,
our boys played amazing, but that just wouldn't do.
 
19-25 to Derby in elegant fashion,
then 25-21 for Norwich playing with passion.
 
Alas the loss, 22-25 is hard to bear,
and 16-25, an unlucky game to be fair.
 
Onwards and upwards the team must now look,
and perhaps go back to the drawing book.
 
Nick Morris played well, a sublime match had he,
and was deservedly named as the MVP.
 
Stories tell of a star shining with light,
so forget about DARKSTAR as black as the night.
 
And let us not worry about that unfortunate game,
it's a time to be merry and joyful again.
 
As we wait for St Nicholas to deliver our gifts,
and give our volleyball spirits a bit of a lift.
 
So we congratulate you boys, you did us alright
HAPPY CHRISTMAS TO ALL, YOU PUT UP A GOOD FIGHT

Just another day at the office for the ladies NVL team as they took victory in both matches at the weekend defeating Telford Ladies 3-1 and Nottingham Rockets 3-0. It is all the more special for them as Telford were playing in the league above last season, so to defeat a team of that calibre who are also in second place within the league is testament to how well the girls are playing this season.
 
In the game against Telford, Norwich took the first set 25-17, the second set 25-23, they lost the third set 25-22 but took the match with a 25-18 scoreline in the final set. The second match of the afternoon against Nottingham Rockets was a rather more straightforward affair as Spikers won 25-21, 25-8 and 25-21 as they fought very well not to drop a set during the match.
 
Congratulations to Georgia who was MVP in the first match and Stefania in the second.
 
Overall, a calm performance from the girls with only a few minor losses in concentration. They managed to maintain their composure across both matches and the second set against Nottingham where they only conceded 8 points must have been a huge spur on for the girls.
 
Regardless of which team in the league has the best players, this season could very well be defined by which team maintains the best composure under any circumstance, and based upon this performance, our girls truly deserve their position sat at the top of the league.