ALL systems are go for Jersey Volleyball Association [JVA] this weekend, as the men’s side prepare for their second season in the Hampshire Volleyball Association League.
2024 saw both Jersey’s men and women’s teams competing in the Hampshire League for the first time, signalling a giant step forwards for the sport in the Island.
Both produced sensational returns, as the men topped their league with just one defeat and the women secured their title with a 100% win record.
The men kick off their 2025 campaign this weekend, with the women’s side starting next weekend.
Men’s player/coach Ed Parslow, a key member of the JVA’s rise from the ground up over the past few years, expressed his excitement for the start of the campaign and how keen he and his teammates are to get going.
“I think we might be even more excited than last year,” he said.
“Just knowing what to expect a little bit more and that we were able to compete well at the level last season has filled us with confidence and anticipation for this opening weekend.”
Last season’s men’s divisions were split evenly into Group A and Group B. However, this season has been changed to Division 1 and 2, with Jersey earning the right to be in the upper division.
Joining the Caesareans in Division 1 are none other than their Channel Island rivals, Guernsey.
The Sarnians have been established in the HVA system for several years now and this will be the first season the two islands will meet outside of the annual inter-insular clash.
Now, along with the thriving local indoor league throughout the winter and the beach league in the summer, volleyball in Jersey is gaining serious momentum.
For the men’s side, their debut season in the HVA League was a resounding success.
They stunned the mainland teams throughout their nine fixtures, losing just one game and dropping just four sets throughout to remarkably finish top of the league in their first outing.
Topping the table also came with the added benefit of qualifying for the South East Volleyball Association SEVA finals, along with all other league winners in the region.
Jersey find themselves facing some familiar foes from last season in the very first round of fixtures.
The Caesarean’s first game will see them face Aldershot Volleyball Club, followed by Polonia Hampshire and finally a mammoth clash against Guernsey.
On the men’s side, the two islands found themselves in different groups last season, so did not get to face each other until the inter-insular fixture.
He continued: “Everybody loves facing Guernsey, don’t they? It’s always a brilliant battle and the rivalry always makes it that bit more exciting.
“Getting to face them outside the inter-insular and on neutral ground will also be a good test for both teams.
“To play so early in the season is going to be a good challenge for us to see where we are at as a team. We know they are strong, so we will have to bring our A game.
“But there will be some top players this season. With us being placed in Division 1, we know that we will be facing the better teams from our group last year, as well as some teams we have never come across.
“As a group, I think we have come on enormously from last season. We have trained extremely hard over the winter and really bonded as a group.
“Cohesion on court in volleyball is so crucial, there’s so many moving parts but you have to be in sync and the communication has to be on point. This is an area I feel we are really developing well, especially with the help of new coach Deirdre De Rue, who has been amazing for us.”
Joining Jersey in the top flight are three sides from their group last year, Polonia Hampshire, University of Southampton 1 and Aldershot Volleyball Club, as well as six fresh opponents in Salisbury, URBOND, Roke Polonia, Southampton Academy, Guernsey and Portsmouth United Volleyball Club 1.
Six teams have already completed a round of fixtures, leaving Jersey on catch-up duty, but they will be looking to hit their opening round of fixtures with added fire in the belly, knowing qualification for the SEVA Finals looms large once again.
“Although we qualified for the SEVA finals last season, we know nothing is given,” concluded Parslow.
“This campaign is going to be tough in this division and we’re all extremely excited and ready to get going.
“Most importantly we want to make sure we continue to enjoy it as much as possible. We all get on so well together and we love travelling away as a group.
“If we can continue to take that cohesion onto court and play with freedom then, win or lose, we will be continuing to spread the word of this incredible sport and keep growing volleyball in Jersey.”
Jersey Volleyball Men’s squad: Chris De Rue (c), Oren Le Marquand, Val Hueguet, Finn Hollick, Dan Andrade, Jordan Hampton, Riki Spriggs, Edouard Parslow
