23 Dec 2024
Five Nations Championships 2025: Bertelli and England women ready to challenge on two fronts
Like the men’s team, two squads have been chosen to play in the separate events that run on the same dates – one at the National Volleyball Centre in Kettering and the other out in Luxembourg.
It will be the first time since the Novotel Cup 2023 in January of that year that senior female players have been able to pull on an international jersey and Bertelli believes the enthusiasm she has seen from her players tells her that they are eagerly-awaiting the challenge as much as she is.
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“It’s fantastic to be playing these tournaments because the players want to go to competitions and test themselves – that's why they put in all the training,” she said.
“Competitive opportunities are what motivates players and drives them to be better and this is an opportunity for 24 players to represent their country in a competitive environment.
“It’s also what we want as a coaching team... to get players competing and to build the programme.
“The fact we have other players who are looking to force their way into the reckoning as well shows that there is a strong appetite to play for England.
“The players have shown their commitment in terms of making room in their diaries, and meeting the associated costs, which has been great to see.
“In picking the squads we wanted to give ourselves the chance to win both tournaments – and I think we have done that.
“We also had an eye on events coming up – the European U22 qualifiers and potentially the World Student Games – and we want to have a look at players in a competitive, pressurised environment and see how they deal with it.
“We wanted to make sure that we see plenty of all the players, not just have people sitting on the bench, by getting them out on court.
“For quite a lot of the players, it will be their first time wearing an England shirt and there’s no doubt it’s nerve-racking, but that’s where the more experienced players are key, just to give a smile or word of encouragement at the right times.”
Bertelli will take charge of the Five Nations squad, assisted by Darren Lewis, with Ruben Duarte will act as Team Manager, while Audrey Cooper will oversee the squad at the Novotel Cup, assisted by Paul Welsh.
The 2012 Olympian is delighted to have two coaches she knows very well to be able to take on Germany and Luxembourg on the continent while she is in Northamptonshire.
Bertelli said: “We are lucky that Audrey and I have been working together on the England side of things for three years now, but we are also together at club level as well (Darkstar Derbyshire), so we are pretty well aligned on what we want to achieve.
“That’s not only in terms of the style volleyball we want to see played, but also in terms of the environment we want to create and the direction we want to see things go over the next year.
“Paul has also worked closely with us before and has been part of the coaching team so he, too, knows what we are trying to do. It means I have complete trust in them and we can each concentrate on the events we will be involved in.”
The Five Nations gives England’s players a rare opportunity to enjoy home court advantage and play on front of family and friends.
Playing in the British Isles is, she believes, also likely to be something new – but enjoyable – for most of the players from the other home nations too.
“I can’t really remember the last time we played an England Senior women’s match at home, so it is something we are all very much looking forward to,” said Bertelli.
“We want to go out and enjoy the experience and hopefully they’ll be a few people taking advantage of it being at home that come along to cheer us on.
“If we do that then I think it gives us the platform to be at our best. There is certainly plenty of enthusiasm, with the young players who have come through the junior set-up adding that in particular.”
The Novotel squad will be able to call on three players who are playing their domestic volleyball overseas in the shape of Georgia McGovern (Claremont Mudd Scripps), Sofia Nicholson (Feel Alcobendas) Niamh Davies (Tremblay Athlétique Club).
Bertelli says their experience will be invaluable in helping develop some of the younger players who are travelling.
She said: “Georgia has been over in the States and is back enjoying playing and getting back to her best after injury problems.
“Sofia is in Spain and Niamh in France playing some very competitive volleyball and they are both excellent professionals.
“All three are really important in terms of showing the standards that are expected – especially to the younger players – and we’re really pleased to have them involved.”
Bertelli is expecting strong competition in both tournaments, with England having three opponents in the Five Nations and two opponents in the Novotel Cup.
But she feels both teams have a good blend of youth and experience to deal with what is thrown at them.
“I think all the home nations are in a similar situation with regard to their programmes and where they are at with them,” said Bertelli.
“Northern Ireland have been developing their programme over the last few years, as have Ireland, but, on paper at least, Scotland look to be the strongest of the squads we will face.
“They have a couple of players who have been playing overseas and bring experience, but we will be ready to compete, just as those teams will be ready to compete hard against us.
“In the Novotel, Germany’s side could well be their U21 side, but you know a country with the strength they have in the sport will be very strong, no matter what team they put out.
“Even at that age, they are likely to have five or six years of international experience and have been playing for 10 years or more, so they are likely to be very good technically.
“Luxembourg are always a good team who always have one or two hitters that are strong and can cause problems.
“They are going to be really challenging games, but ones, I think, with the players who are travelling, that we can compete in.”
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