Great Britain’s women volleyball team stepped-up their preparation for the World Championships by beating Nigeria, just days after a cloud of uncertainty hit the sport’s future.
The African side, ranked 55 in the world, visited the English Institute of Sport – Sheffield (EISS) for two international challenge games with the GB side winning both matches 3-1 (25-15, 23-25, 25-10, 25-4) and 3-0 (25-12, 25-16, 25-21)
The games were used as part of the women’s build-up to the first qualifying round of World Championships which are taking place at EISS, January 2 – 4.
Great Britain’s victories followed UK Sport’s decision to defer Volleyball’s funding budget announcement until next month (January).
Kenny Barton, Performance Programme Manager at British Volleyball Federation, said: “The team certainly used the anger of last week’s negative funding announcement to good effect against Nigeria.
“This was a very good work-out for the women’s team and continued their excellent progress before the World Championships in Sheffield. Winning both matches was our goal so this was achieved.
“This is a newly formed Great Britain women’s team and therefore the more matches they can play against international opposition the better. The games against Nigeria followed the women’s recent visit to Japan where they took part in a two-week training camp.
“The experience all forms part of our development performance programme to build the country’s standing in world volleyball.”
GB women face Israel, Portugal and Montenegro in the World Championships in Sheffield. They will be hoping to finish top to reach the next round against the Ukraine, Belarus and Azerbaijan, with the World Finals taking place in Japan 2010.
Kenny added: “All of these teams are stronger than Nigeria so we have to raise our level of play. The positive in all of this is that we are starting to show that we do have the ability to play with teams like those coming up and this confidence should give ourselves chances to be competitive and win matches during the competition.”
Tickets for the first round event, which is supported by Yorkshire Forward, are priced at £8 for adults and £4 for concessions.
They are available in advance by visiting www.volleyballengland.org, calling 0114 223 5742 or from the EIS - Sheffield reception, Coleridge Road, Sheffield, S9 5DA.
For further information visit www.eis-sheffield.co.uk.
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