400 Up for Guildford
Guildford International Volleyball Club achieved a landmark victoryrecently as the club notched up their 400th victory in Volleyball England National League matches.
Initially entering one team into the league in 1990 the club has now played over 700 matches across both womens and mens competitions and it was the men who had the honour of achieving this landmark victory with a comfortable 3-0 win over Wessex Juniors.
Guildford sit undefeated at the top of Division 2 South with five wins under their belts by playing an intoxicating blend of powerful yet intelligent volleyball with an attacking threat coming from all positions on court. A large squad means that there is competition for court time for every role and this is bringing out the best in the team with some outstanding individual performances.
Guildford were in control throughout the match with a consistent performance which has characterised their season to date, on Sunday it was vice captain Nicholas Epiphaniou who won the Most Valuable Player award although in reality any one of a number of players could have got the nod.
The 401st victory wasn't long in coming as the womens team took to the court later in the afternoon. Revenge was on the agenda against the Oxford Student team that had pipped Guildford to the play-off spot last season and the only team to have recorded home and away victories against the Surrey side.
Guildford started the match hesitantly narrowly losing a tight and error filled first set, but soon found their stride and dominated the match from then on to run out comfortable 3-1 winners.
Commenting on the 400th victory, club chairman John Biddiscombe said: -
"It was only over the summer that we started looking at the National League records and realised that we were close to 400 victories. It's fitting that as we look forward to the clubs 25th anniversary in 2012 we can also remember all the coaches and players that have helped establish the club as a significant force in the National League over the years."