JERSEY’S men’s volleyball team returned to Hampshire for the 2025/26 edition of the Hampshire Volleyball Division 1 last weekend but returned home empty handed after three challenging defeats.
The 2024/25 third place finishers made the trip with a renewed vigour, but couldn’t have received a more challenging baptism to the new campaign.
Fixtures against URBOND, Portsmouth United VC 1 and Roke Polonia offered stern competition, all three sides having made excellent starts to their own campaign.
Their first game of the day saw the islanders face Roke Polonia, and an excellent opening set saw them take an early 1-0 lead, winning it 25-19.
However, set 2 saw a flip of the script, losing 15-25 to face a deciding set, which went the way of the UK side 13-15 in a nail-biting finish.
The defeat will have been a disappointing start to the campaign, which was made even more challenging with a follow-up fixture against the undefeated league leaders URBOND.
Having finished in fifth last season, URBOND have already managed more wins in six games than they managed in nine last campaign, including sweeping Jersey aside in straight sets 18-25, 21-25.
Jersey’s third and final game of the day saw a determined Portsmouth United VC 1 side flex their muscles, succumbing Jersey to consecutive straight sets defeats, this game reading 17-25, 11-25.
Jersey Men’s next trip to Hampshire is not until 8 March, where they will face round two of fixtures against Salisbury, Portsmouth Phoenix 1 and Portsmouth United VC 2.
However, this weekend sees the return of the Jersey Women to action, looking to defend their crown after finishing top of the league last season and securing a spot in the SEVA finals.
JVA Men’s squad: Oren Le Marquand, Edouard Parslow, Finn Hollick, Jack Messervy, Dan Beck, Seb Lilley, Valentin Heuguet, Patryk Lalka, Daniel Andrade
