Student Cup Finals 2025 preview: Cardiff, Brunel, York, Liverpool and Sussex unis looking to make their mark

The eagerly-awaited Student Cup Finals return to Norwich this weekend, with 32 teams (16 men's and 16 women's) battling it out for the right to be crowned champions.

After three thrilling preliminary rounds held in Leeds, Kettering and Ashcombe across consecutive weekends in November, the stage is now set for the winners of the trophies to be decided tomorrow and Sunday (8th and 9th February) at the University of East Anglia.

Volleyball England has spoken to some of the competing teams to hear their thoughts and expectations ahead of the event getting underway.

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The University of Cardiff Women's team faced only a brief wait to determine whether they had secured a spot in the Student Cup Finals after competing in the third and final weekend of qualifiers in Kettering on 23rd November, having finished a close second in Pool H.

The battle for the top spot in was tightly contested, with Cardiff and the University of Bristol neck and neck throughout the qualifiers.

Both teams finished with three wins and one draw, earning seven points each and ending level on points.

Ultimately, the Welsh team were just edged out of first place due to set difference, finishing with +4 compared to Bristol’s +6, but it was still enough to secure qualification as one of the best second-placed teams.

Cardiff also qualified for last season’s 2023-24 event, where they went on to finish 13th. This year, they aim to improve on that result but recognise that will be a tough challenge.

“We are most excited for some tough competition and to spend a weekend immersed in high-level volleyball,” said captain Maisie-Ella Summers.

“It’s always great to challenge ourselves against teams with diverse playing styles. We anticipate some intense matches that will truly push us.”

Beyond the competition itself, Maisie-Ella feels the strong team chemistry that Cardiff have built over time is one of their key strengths.

She added: “We’ve had plenty of experience playing alongside each other, so we really know each other and how to support each other on and off the court.

“Aside from that, everyone is super-keen to keep improving and maintain a positive atmosphere to keep the morale high.

"Preparing for the competition has been challenging with everyone juggling busy university schedules, but we've made the most of our training sessions, even when time has been limited.

"Additionally, we've made a conscious effort to arrange friendly matches against local teams whenever possible, helping to build team cohesion and ensuring we're as prepared as possible for the competition.”

Across the weekend, Cardiff will face hosts The University of East Anglia, as well as Cambridge University and The University of Warwick in Women's Pool C.

Maisie-Ella views this competition as a valuable opportunity for the team to learn and grow together.

“This will be a great chance to learn and develop as a team,” she said, “especially when facing opponents we don’t usually encounter in our regular BUCS League, which is something we’re particularly excited about.”

Heading north from the capital are Brunel University men, who will face Imperial 1, University of Norwich and The University of Nottingham in hopes of securing a place in the last eight.

“I’m most excited to step onto the court with my team and compete against some incredible talent,” said Outside Hasib Abdul.

“This is an amazing opportunity to showcase our skills and teamwork while putting our team’s name on the map. We’re eager to give it our all and make a strong impression.

“Our team’s determination and organisation are key strengths, but what truly sets us apart is the incredible talent on our squad.

“We’re fortunate to have standout players like Abdi Malik Shukri, a Richmond Super League outside hitter, and our captain Malek Amerudin, who is Richmond’s Super League libero.

“Additionally, our team has been bolstered by the recent addition of Michael Cheung, Richmond’s setter, whose skills and leadership bring immense value to our lineup.

Guiding us is our coach, Jarad Uhlir, who played in the NCAA and led Nebraska to multiple championship wins. With such amazing players and a highly accomplished coach, we’re confident in our ability to succeed and gain a competitive edge in this tournament.

In qualification, at Kettering on 23rd November, Brunel achieved a clean sweep, as their dominance saw them overpower Oxofrd University, the University of Bath, Elliot Hudson College Leeds, and the University of Cardiff to collect a maximum eight points.

Since then, on and off the court, preperations have continued to ensure the team is as prepared as it possibly can be.

Hasib said: “Captain, Malek has done an outstanding job managing the logistical side of things, including transport, accommodation, and court bookings, all while ensuring they align with our university schedules.

“This meticulous organisation has allowed us to focus entirely on the game itself, relieving any unnecessary stress and enabling us to be at our best on the court.

“We’re particularly excited to face Imperial University. Many of us have friends on their team, and players from both teams have had the unique experience of playing together in the All Nations tournament, representing Singapore. Facing them in an official match will be a thrilling experience, and we’re looking forward to what we expect will be a highly competitive and enjoyable game.

“This will actually be our first time competing at the finals, as we weren’t able to participate last year. Despite being newcomers, we are highly motivated to make an impact.”

University of York women head east having qualified from Pool C staged in nearby Leeds.

They finished top of their table with a 100% record, getting the better of Leeds University 2, Staffordshire University and the University of Bradford to earn automatic finals qualification.

“We are so excited to spend time with our teammates and play some high level volleyball,” said captain Ezgi Su Gulmez. “Our expectations are just to give it our all and play cohesively as a team.

“We have great connections with each other and have fun on the court which helps us play loose and free. We also have some great defenders

“It has been challenging to work around our schedules, especially for the masters students, but we have put in a great deal of work and we feel prepared going into the competition.

“We are excited to play every team in our pool as we have not played them before so each game should be a unique and fun experience.

“We came out on top in our qualifier in Leeds after having a challenging start to the season, so that was super-uplifting and gave us lots of confidence, which we have carried forward.

“We are the first women’s team at our uni to qualify for the Student Cup Finals in three years, so we are really proud and ready to compete.”

Heading up Pool F in the men’s qualifiers were the University of LIverpool, who pipped the University of Nottingham to the post in the race for top spot.

They also defeated Sheffield Hallam University, Bangor University and Leeds University 2 en route to booking their place in the next stages.

Opposite Anthony Kerr said: “I think I'm most excited for the chance to go on a weekend trip with my team. I feel like it will be a nice bonding experience and it'll be fun to see and take part in some high level volleyball 

“I think our team is very good at trusting each other, which I believe is a very important trait in volleyball. Everyone works hard on the team and we all believe in and support each other.

“This week we've been rammed with some tough fixtures so our preparations have mostly focused on training for those, but we've had to sync up our travel so that people were comfortable with their schedules.

“I personally have friends on two of the teams we're playing (Essex and Cambridge), so I’m pretty excited to play against both of those teams.

“We had a tough journey to qualification, given that we had to play Nottingham, who are a very strong team, but in that game we rallied together really well and used the power of friendship to prevail so hopefully that stands us in good stead.”

After competing in the second weekend of qualifiers in Ashcombe on 16th November, University of Sussex women patiently awaited confirmation of their place in the Student Cup Finals Weekend.

Finishing second in a highly competitive Pool B, the team was delighted to get the nod that they had booked their place.

Sussex battled with Exeter University for the top position with their decisive showdown determining the final rankings, which the South West team won by virtue of winning more points in a drawn contest.

However, the south coast side secured victories in three of their matches, defeating Queen Mary University, the University of Plymouth, and Royal Holloway 1, dropping only a single set along the way.

This left Sussex waiting to see if they would advance as one of the best second placed teams, a wait that ultimately ended in success.

We’re most excited for the high level of competition and the chance to challenge ourselves against some of the best university teams in the country,” said Sussex libero Sienna Greig.

“Our goal is to perform at our best, showcase our team’s hard work, and hopefully make a deep run in the tournament.

“Our team thrives on strong chemistry, solid defensive play, and a fast-paced attacking style. We have a well-balanced mix of experienced players and fresh talent, which gives us versatility on the court.

We’ve been training intensely with focused sessions on both technical skills and team strategy. Balancing training with university schedules has been a challenge, but everyone has been committed to putting in the extra effort to prepare for the competition.

In Norwich, Sussex will now take on last year's winners UCL, The University of Nottingham and Imperial College London in hopes of making it to the knockout phase.

Sienna added: “We’re always excited to face strong teams as it pushes us to elevate our game.

“There are a few teams we haven’t played before, so we’re looking forward to testing ourselves against new competition and seeing how we match up.

“Our journey to qualification has been a rewarding one. We’ve faced some tough matches, but our resilience and teamwork have carried us through. Injuries and scheduling conflicts have presented challenges, but our squad has adapted well and continued to push forward.

“We’re grateful for the opportunity to compete in the Student Cup and can’t wait to showcase our skills after the hard work we have put in.”

Article by Isabella Baker

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