Super League round 13 preview – Cooper enjoying the building process at Durham

In 2023-24, the Durham Palatinates swept all before them in clinching not only the Super League title by winning at the inaugural Final 4, but also the National Cup and BUCS titles too. 

This season, with almost an entirely new roster, things have not come as easily for the North East university club, with a 5-5 record to their name just past the halfway point of the season. 

Yet the American is optimistic the Palatinates can still make the Final 4 in a division that, the top two sides aside, has been ultra-competitive.

 

Just two points separates third from seventh and any kind of consistent run from this point will see any of those sides progress to the season finalé at Crystal Palace National Sports Centre on Saturday 5th and Sunday 6th April (buy tickets here). 

Chey firmly believes that there is no reason why that cannot be Durham – and that once you reach the Final 4 “all bets are off”.  

“It’s been good to see that the level of play is strong and that you are coming up against good players and good teams every week,”he said. “I knew it was going to be pretty competitive, but I didn’t realise it would be this competitive, and you can see how closely matched the teams are by looking at the league table. 

“You have the really strong teams at the top, Essex and Malory and then the play-off chasing teams at the top, but even the sides at the bottom end, Polonia and Stockport have been upsetting other teams and it shows you can lose any game. 

“It’s tough, but I’m very excited about that because it means every game matters. I want to play in that kind of environment and be part of a team where we are building to be better. 

“The first term has been really good because we have played some really good teams and are starting to understand what we need to do to get better and better and reach the end goal of getting into the Final 4. 

“I don’t think we are feeling any pressure from what the team did last season. What they did is in the past now and we can only control the controllables and do what we can in the future. 

“It’s not a case of always having to win, you just have to try to keep improving and be better than you were last week. 

“For us (at Durham), it is pretty much a new team every year, different guys, so trying to mash it all together into one big team is one of the hardest parts. 

“I think we struggled early on, but we are starting to look more like it now and I’m enjoying that process of seeing us grow as a team. 

“If you can make it through to the play-off matches at the end of the season, then all bets are off. Anyone can win and it’s one-off games where any team who qualifies can beat the top team.” 

The Palatinates were beaten in five sets (14-25, 25-23, 20-25, 25-20, 25-16, 15-12) in a thrilling local derby with Newcastle Knights at the Graham Sports Centre on Wednesday evening. 

The result has moved the DYNAMIK Men’s Super League’s most northerly side up to third in the table, while Durham are down in fifth. 

But by taking a point from that clash, Durham remain one of a number of mid-table teams who are eyeing a Final 4 berth, making for an intriguing end to the season. 

Next up for Chey and his team-mates this weekend is a double header against Essex Blaze and Malory Eagles, meaning they will have played three games in six days. 

It’s an exhausting run of matches, but one the 23-year-old prefers than to when games are spread out. 

Chey said: “Coming from the States, I am used to playing every weekend, but it’s good to get a run of matches. 

“If there are things you have noticed watching back that you want to improve on then you can look to implement it straightaway, rather than having to wait. 

“We have Essex Blaze first up this weekend who we know are a very good team. They have been playing together for a while. 

“You can’t take anything granted and we know what they are capable of, so we will be approaching it as if they are top of the league. 

“Everyone has seen how strong Malory have been this year, but they lost last time out to Nottingham, so we can take encouragement from that and know if we put everything together then we can cause them some big problems.” 

Outside hitter Chey did not actually take up volleyball until the age of 14, despite playing a number of sports leading up to that. 

He tried his hand at football, American football and tennis, but in the end it proved to be a shoot-out between volleyball and basketball as to which would be the sport he pursued most seriously. 

In the end, it was his height, or lack of it compared to some of his compatriots, that proved to be the deciding factor. 

“I watched my younger sister's playing volleyball and thought it looked pretty cool, and it was the same when I first saw a men’s game too,” said Chey. 

“I started to play and really enjoyed it and I thought it was a sport I could really get into, but I was keen on playing basketball as well. 

“It was between those two that I wanted, but, at 6ft 1ins tall, I thought it would be harder to make a success of it in basketball than in volleyball, and it has worked out pretty well so far. 

“There are definitely similarities between the two sports in terms of it really helping to be athletic and the fact that you need to read the game and anticipate what is happening. 

“In volleyball I like that it’s a true team sport in that you need all six or seven players on your team to be on the same page, or you are not going to win. 

“It’s nice to have people to depend on and even off the court, being involved in volleyball is a great relationship builder.” 

After a successful high school career, Chey played volleyball at university, first at George Mason University in Virginia and then at Fort Valley State University (FVSU) in Georgia. 

It was while at the former that he first got to know middle blocker Sam Peters, who is currently playing for the University of Nottingham. 

Chey did have a word with the England man before coming to play this side of the pond, but insists he had already just about made up his mind that he wanted to play in the UK while finishing his studies (he is currently studying for a Masters in Physical Activity, Health and Society). 

He said: “Sam and I went thorough as undergraduates at George Mason at the same time, although he is a year younger than me, and I know him pretty well. 

“We did talk about what I could expect if I came to England, on and off the court, and he told me that it would be a good level in the Super League and it would be fun, but I had already pretty much made up my mind about coming over here. 

“When I’ve played against him (Durham v Nottingham), we have gone hard when we are on the court, but once we finish then we can switch it off again. There’s not really any banter about it between us and certainly no hard feelings.” 

While feeling it has been important to secure his long-term future through his academic qualifications, Chey is determined to showcase his skills as a professional. 

Although he admits he does not know his destination yet, he is keen to explore all options. 

“I would love to play pro in Europe or Asia... wherever the most appealing offer comes in from and this season has been a good start in getting used to playing overseas,” said Chey. 

“Normally we’ve started playing a new season in the spring, so to kick things off right from the start of the (academic) year, but I feel I’ve been playing pretty well. 

“My hitting and passing have been good and I feel like my serve has been getting more consistent as the season has gone on, so hopefully that continues. 

“I’m definitely going to keep playing while my body will allow me. It’s a privilege that I’ve been able to play the sport I love to a high level. 

“I’d also liked to go into coaching eventually and that’s why I’ve been keen to take on as much as I can when I study, so that I’m not just a coach, but I can dip into other areas of expertise as well.” 

Images by Nathaniel Macrae, Noelia Fernandez Perez, George Mason Athletics, FVSU Athletics and Virginia Pilot.

---

For all the Super League fixtures, results and latest news, click here.

Keep up to date with all the action via our social media channels... Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and X.