The U16 Grand Prix is Volleyball England’s national tournament for all U16 teams across the country. After three intense rounds, our homegrown Bristol team battled their way into the Top 6, securing a coveted spot in the Last 8. This meant they earned the chance to compete at the National Volleyball Centre in Kettering on 9th March - an event livestreamed on Volleyball England’s YouTube channel.
Our team found themselves in one of the toughest pools, facing Richmond A (last year’s finalists), Leeds (this year’s favourite for the semi-finals), and Newcastle Staffs - all well-established clubs with plenty of experience at this stage. But Bristol was ready to compete.
A strong start saw them claim a 2-0 victory against Newcastle.
A closely fought match against Richmond resulted in a 2-0 loss, with both sets going down to the wire.
A thrilling showdown with Leeds went to three sets, with Bristol securing a hard-fought win in the final set.
Finishing in the Top 2 of their pool, the team advanced to the Semi-finals to take on last year’s Grand Prix
champions, Urmston Grammar. It was an incredibly competitive match, with Bristol pushing their opponents to the limit before narrowly missing out on a place in the final. However, they finished the tournament with a bronze medal, firmly establishing themselves as one of the top teams in the country.
This was the first time the club had ever entered the U16 Grand Prix, making a third-place national finish an incredible achievement - not just for the team, but for volleyball in Bristol. The players showed true determination, passion, and resilience throughout, proving that the future of volleyball in the city is brighter than ever.
See all of the brilliant action shots from the tournament here: https://flickr.com/photos/199352623@N07/
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