Varsity success and volleyball victory

The Cambridge men's volleyball team won the English Volleyball Association Student Cup in Leeds. In the 30th Annual Varsity Games the swimming and water polo teams completed a clean sweep, winning convincingly in all four matches. The lifesaving, basketball seconds, taekwondo, and badminton teams all secured victories as well.

Oxford looked for revenge in the women's water polo match, having lost to the light blues once this season already. The dark blues will have to wait another year, however, as Cambridge won again with a convincing 16 - 9 victory. While down two goals early, a smattering of goals by Lindsey McFarlane and Gemma Hindson put Cambridge ahead. Claire Martin and goalie Nicola Wilkinson also contributed exceptional performances, helping to protect and enhance Cambridge's commanding lead.

The Cambridge men's water polo team secured their first Varsity victory in six years, stifling Oxford's offence in a 9 - 4 victory. Although the dark blues scored first, Cambridge answered with quick goals from Matt Wiseman and Ben Tausig. A superb performance in goal by Joel Miller and Cambridge's stout defence ensured that the lead was never relinquished.

Captain Russ Fuller said after the match: "The team played extremely well to finally win the Varsity Match, and the clean sweep makes our victory even sweeter."

While the men's swimming events were expected to be close, Cambridge was convincingly in the lead halfway through the meet. The team effort was led by Mike Scott, who won all his events, and Tony Vaughan.

The Cambridge women's team swam to an easy victory. Lindsey McFarlane and Gemma Hindson led the attack, and strong performances by Katy Stokes, Miriam Smith, and Anja Slim helped secure the final result.

The Cambridge seconds basketball team won their first ever Varsity game 93 to 78. In a fiercely competitive match Cambridge had to overcome 37 called fouls and a key injury to hold off Oxford in the final couple of minutes. The team was led by Guillermo Tomas Ramos and Tom Lyons who notched up 22 and 20 points respectively.

Winning all three of their events, the lifesaving team left no doubt about who saved the day.

The taekwondo team won convincingly as well, sporting victories in four out of five competitions. Badminton continued the winning trend, emerging victorious in two of their matches this weekend. They will play two more next weekend.

The majority of the Varsity Matches will be played next weekend (22 February). Events include basketball, korfball and karate.

Cambridge Men’s Volleyball scoop national cup

Cambridge Men's volleyball team peaked at the right time as they secured the first trophy in the history of Cambridge volleyball by winning the English Volleyball Association Student Cup at Leeds University on Sunday. Their memorable triumph came after two days of gruelling competition which saw the Blues win six matches and concede only a single set in the whole tournament. Their achievement was capped by the personal success of outside hitter Andy Lynn, who won the tournament’s Most Valuable Player award.

The usual tough draw for Cambridge saw them placed in group B alongside London, the defending champions, and Birmingham, a team boasting a Cypriot international hitter who had defeated the Blues in a five-set epic only 10 days earlier. Unfancied York completed the pool. The first match with Birmingham proved to be a thriller, with Cambridge winning in a tiebreak 15-12 despite losing Andy Lynn to an ankle injury, however London and York were no match for the power of the Blues' Ken Kato and Dan Roy as the Light Blues won both games in straight sets to finish top of the group.

Sunday began with Cambridge facing Bristol, and Lynn returned to the starting line-up for the quarter-final clash. Outstanding serving from setter Roger Konrad was key as the Blues took set one 25-17 and survived a late rally from the Westerners to edge set two 25-23. Unknown quantitites University College Dublin were the opponents for the semi-final, and although they possessed a strong opposite hitter they were rarely in the match as Cambridge secured a place in the final with a 25-21, 25-15 win.

Vociferous support from the respective ladies' teams and the usual balcony full of spectators provided a rousing atmosphere for the final showdown with Loughborough, who were desperate for a trophy after finishing as BUSA runners-up in 2000 and 2001. The Midlanders started strongly and forced Blues coach Dr Richard White to call time-out with his side down 4-9, however outstanding quick attacking and blocking from Dan Escott, and unstoppable hitting from Lynn and Roy led the Cambridge fight back. Loughborough had set point at 24-23, but excellent defence saw the Blues take the next three to win set one.

Set two started badly for the Blues, however Loughborough were unable to handle Pierre Briguet-Lamarre's bullet-like jump serves and began to fall behind. Heroic defence from libero Denis Zuev coupled with some fearsome hitting from Roy and Lynn took the Blues to the brink, and a kill from Briguet-Lamarre saw the court engulfed by a sea of Cambridge players and supporters as the match was secured.

Cambridge's first volleyball trophy sees them installed as hot favourites for the Varsity Match, which takes place on Saturday 23 February (4pm start) at Oxford's Iffley Road Gym.