The University Volleyball Club’s recent success on the university and national front has been recognised with a trio of nominations being shortlisted for the recent Sport Dundee Awards.  The exceptional success of the club – which currently has 90 paid-up members representing  20 different nationalities! – resulted in it being recognised in the Club of the Year, Team of the Year and Coach of the Year categories in Dundee’s premier sports event,  broadcast on Radio Tay.  The club’s recognition within the regional sporting community has come on the back of it receiving Dundee University Sports Union’s Team and Club of the Year accolades for 2009.

The university club’s success on the court has been built on a solid foundation off it.  The club currently has nine qualified coaches; seven graded officials; puts out six teams on a weekly basis; delivers junior coaching sessions to local schoolchildren and supports  local volleyball development.  This is supported by fundraising events, annual foreign tours, regular social events and proactive promotion of matches resulting in upwards of 40 spectators at home fixtures.

The commitment of the student players is reflected in attendance at training, which is regularly over 50 and both men’s and women’s first teams train 7.30am twice a week, before their lectures.

Success on the sports field – or court – only comes with hard work and commitment and the Dundee University students’ significant investment in their club has paid impressive dividends:  the men’s team are currently on an unbeaten run in the Scottish Universities league which stretches more than two years and has seen them win promotion from the Scottish Universities 2nd division and win the 1st division for the first time  ever; the women were also unbeaten last season, winning both Scottish Universities league and cup and finishing runners up in the British Universities Championship and Scottish Thistle Bowl. 

While the university club did not lift the awards, their appearance on three shortlists indicates that student sport at Dundee University is in good health.  2010 looks to be another award-winning season for Dundee University Volleyball Club!