Super League round 9 preview – McKelvey pinpoints next three games as key to Knights charge

The transition from Team Sunderland to one combining players from Northumbria University and the University of Newcastle had its potential pitfalls, certainly in the early past of the campaign. 

But instead of being a stumbling block for a side that under its previous guise had to scrap all the way to avoid relegation, the move has galvanised the North Easterners, helping them to a 3-1 record in the four matches they have played so far. 

A statement five-set Opening Weekend victory over Malory Eagles – who have been victorious in all four of their matches since – set the tone and has proven to be a sign of things to come. 

A home defeat in three tight sets against London Giants has proven only to be a temporary setback as the Knights have come charging back with gusto. 

Since then, the team in red and blue have beaten last season’s regular season table toppers IBB Polonia and then travelled to Richmond Docklands and won in four. 

But as libero Jack McKelvey explains, the team are not shocked by what they have achieved so far because of the continued hard work they have put in and the quality of play they have produced. 

The 24-year-old believes that more is to come from a young team that is gaining in experience all the time. 

“There’s definitely been a change since last season and at the time it seemed like it might be a course, but actually it has turned out to be a blessing,” said Jack. “I don’t think there is one single reason why we have started well, but a few different things. 

“There was a lot of uncertainty about what would happen, but in reality it now means that most of the team now don’t have to travel 20 minutes to Sunderland from Newcastle to train – they can either walk to practice a very short car journey. 

“It’s unique with us that we are basically a team from two universities and then a couple of us, like me, who are working. 

“We now also have a consistent place that we train and then use for matches, so the players are familiar with their surroundings when it comes to games. Both unis are right there and we are very passionate about representing Newcastle as a city as well. 

“Because most of our team are studying, they can dedicate a lot of time to playing volleyball, training twice a week with their uni teams and then once or twice a week with the Knights team, depending on if we have games or not. 

“Training three or four times a week is more than some of the other teams are able to get in because of their own circumstances. 

“We also have a good blend of good young players, who are getting better all the time and then some experienced overseas players as well. 

“A lot of credit goes to Sam Shenton and Dan Livingstone because they have focused on getting that balance right so that we can now challenge when we are playing some of the top teams in the league. 

“The other factor, which is really important, is that we are a really tight-knit group. When you are travelling five hours to a game and five hours back to some games, you need to get on with each other and I think we have had some of our best times together on those coach journeys.” 

But now, as Jack readily admits, the team is at something of a crossroads, with three matches in six days of significant importance. 

On Saturday, Newcastle host newly-promoted Essex Blaze before on Sunday they welcome Stockport to the North East before, four days later, they will then contest the reverse fixture against the Greater Manchester side. 

It is likely to dictate whether the team can establish themselves as contenders for a Final 4 place at the end of the season, or whether they are simply fighting to stay in a top-flight that is being cut from 10 to eight next season, meaning at least three teams will be relegated. 

Jack said: “The league is especially tight this year and everyone is aware of the structure changes for next season, which means everyone is prpearing well and there are no teasm you can take for granted. 

“Both teams we are playing in thjis busy period are near the bottom but that does not make them easy at all. 

“We know this is season-defining. If we get through the next through games with wins, then we will go to 6-1 then we will be looking in pretty good shape, but if we lose them then we are going to be looking over our shoulders at what is behind us. 

“Can we reach the Final 4 at the end of the season? That is the aim and I think you will be able to better answer that question as to whether we can do it in a week’s time, but I would like to think so. 

“It’s going to be mentally and physically tiring, but we are a young team who likes to build momentum and if we can win one game then we can take it into the next and then hopefully do the same again.”

 Proud Scot McKelvey took up volleyball around the age of 12 when he was experimenting by playing a number of team sport. 

His school ran hosted a lunch time club that was run by a coach from the local Kinross Volleyball Club.  

For a time, he continued to share his time on the court with playing football, but once he began to play for the bigger City of Edinburgh club – and get involved in the Scottish national programme (alongside Essex Eagles’ Errea October Player of the Month Euan Fraser) – it became his main sporting focus. 

After leaving school, he began to look for scholarship opportunities in order to continue his volleyball journey around his studies, but, realising that was not possible in his homeland he looked south of the border. 

Although initially looking at a few different options, Newcastle quikcly became his destination of choice, not just because of its academic and volleyball appeal, but also because of its relative proximity to home. 

“I would have to say that volleyball was something of a slow burner at first,” said Jack. “Because volleyball does not have much mass popularity and there’s never been that obvious route to progress, it was something I never really thought about at first. 

“It was around the age of 17 that I got involved with Scotland and I talked to a few of the national coaches and I started to look into how I could take it further. 

“I wasn’t too bothered at first about where I went in terms of unis, other than I wanted to go somewhere where I could improve my level. 

“At that time, in 2018, the best option for volleyball looked to be Northumbria and once I had been down to have a look around and spoken to David Goodchild about the high-performance culture that existed, my mind was pretty much made up. 

“I studied a Business Economics degree and once I graduated in 2021 I decided to stay in Newcastle, I’ve fallen in love with the city at it’s my home from home, and I now work full-time, being in charge of recruitment for an automotive company. 

“It’s really good from the point of view the fact that I can work from home and manage my hours around my volleyball, which is important not only for getting to training but also travelling to away fixtures that can be a long way from Newcastle.” 

After the team’s relative struggles last season, Jack is quick to acknowledge the impact of North American trio Ryan Peace and Neil Rea (from the US) and Matthew Milne (from Canada). 

Their know-how is proving particularly invaluable in helping to develop the younger members of the team.

Jack said: “Like a lot of Super League teams, it’s really makes a difference to have players come in  as they have. Ryan and Neal have come in from the same US college and are super enthusiastic while also being very calm on court having played at a high NCAA level. 

“They don’t get overly-concerned when things go wrong and they contribute a lot and help us through key moments in the game as a team. 

“Matthew Milne is also very calm and is great in the company of the younger guys, taking them aside and working on specific things such as their positioning.” 

On Sunday, Jack is set to discover if he will be part of the Scotland squad to play in the inaugural Five Nations Championships, to be played at the National Volleyball Centre in Kettering from 3rd to 5th January. 

If selected it would mean he would be able to pit his wits against many of the English players he comes across week in, week out in the DYNAMIK Super League. 

“I’m hoping to be selected for the Five Nations and I would love to be involved,” said Jack. 

“I actually once my first cap against England and we have beaten them quite a few times in the past, so that is a game we will be relishing as a squad. 

“I really look forward to playing with the lads back home and I know they look forward to coming to England for internationals. It probably gives you that bit of extra motivation and determination because you are now playing against these guys all the time.” 

Having seen the Super League Live concept make its bow over the last two weekends – with matches from both Crystal Palace in London and Leeds streamed on the Volleyball England YouTube Channel – Jack has enjoyed what he has seen. 

He not only hopes that Newcastle will, in time, be able to take a turn in hosting an event, but also that it becomes a more regular feature on the calendar. 

Jack said: “I think it’s brilliant and, if anything, I don’t think there is enough if it at the moment because we want to do even more to build coverage across the UK. 

“It does a lot to show young players what is achievable and the standard that they can play at if they practice hard. 

“It also helps for those people who don’t know anything about volleyball to get a first look at the sport and see just how exciting to watch it can be. 

“Hopefully we can get a match up here in Newcastle in the not-too-distance future as I’m sure that is something everyone would enjoy.” 

Images by Nathaniel Macrae and Noelia Fernandez Perez

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