NVL newcomers 26-27 part four – Northampton Women 2 

Club formed: 1980s 

Social media handles: @northampton_vc (Instagram, Facebook, YouTube) 

Facebook Group: Click here. 

Preparations are well underway for Northampton 2 as they ready themselves for a first season in the NVL – because they have never really stopped! 

While the club’s East Midlands League campaign wound down a while ago, Cup commitments have kept the team going well into July. 

But the extra effort has proven to have been well worthwhile as the team ended up as champions of the knockout competition by beating league winners Boston 3-0 in the final. 

The very late end to the season has set the team up nicely for their first crack at National League volleyball, where they will compete in Division 3 Central. 

They will take on the likes of Coventry and Warwick Riga, Lincoln Cannons and Norwich Spikers, who have dropped down from Division 2, Nottingham Rockets, Cambridge Rhinos and Loughborough Students 2, who remain from last season, and fellow newbies Nuneaton Flames and Cambridge 3. 

"As the coach I’m looking forward to seeing the players challenge themselves and grow throughout the season at an NVL level," said Head Coach Trystan Barnett. 

"It is an exciting step for the club, and we're looking forward to building a competitive team culture, developing players, and testing ourselves against strong opposition across the country. 

"More than anything it is a fantastic opportunity for this club to continue progressing and to give players their first experience of competing at a national level while representing Northampton Volleyball Club with pride. 

"The motivation behind putting a second team into the NVL was purely around providing a wider player development pathway and strengthening the club identity. 

"Expanding into multiple NVL teams demonstrated ambition and establishes Northampton as a serious performance club within the region. 

"Our goal is to remain in the division and compete strongly in our first year. The way this team have progressed it will be very interesting to see how they play together in a higher standard competition.  

"This team has the perfect opportunity to nurture players and inspire them to feed up into the Division 1 team." 

While the Cup success has provided a silver lining to the 2025-26 campaign, Northampton were a little disappointed by how things went in the league. 

That said, performances when they had a full-strength squad available were encouraging. 

Trystan added: "We came away winning four and losing four in the league. That is not a fair reflection of the season the team had, because there were times we have been without players for games and had to recruit from the Local league team who have helped out. 

"However, when all players are there, we have produced some brilliant performances including the away win against Boston, who finished top of the league." 

As the club has been built up in the past few years, a strong emphasis has been placed on youth development to help bolster the senior squads. 

That is set to continue into 2026-27 in what is proving to be an exciting era for the club. 

"With Northampton already having a growing junior programme and players involved in regional pathways, a second team will provide younger athletes with potential adult competitive experience earlier in their development," said Trystan. 

"Furthermore, we are also building on our current momentum. With Northampton Ladies recently promoting to Division 1 and maintaining their position last season, we are expanding the club more whilst there is already momentum and excitement around the club. 

"In the past five years the club has grown from four hours a week and 40 playing members, to an amazing 125-plus members providing training of up to 15 hours each week. 

"Now we have the structure and performance throughout the club to offer beginners' volleyball as well as competing as high as NVL Division 1 for ladies and NVL Division 2 for men... it's exciting times!" 

While contributions are expected all across the court, the team will look to two influential players in particular to help them become established. 

Trystan said: “Salita Alves' previous experience and maturity means she will be a great leader for a new team going into the NVL. 

“Salita also has a lot of influence on the team because of these reasons, as well as her commitment to training, and bringing the energy to every session. These are the traits we thrive off of at this club, and Salita as captain will certainly bring this. 

“Paige Nicholls-Fountain is a young setter, who is hungry for more and more experience on court. We as coaches have seen her confidence grow each game, and now, she will have the opportunity to develop further at NVL level. 

“She has the right attitude at training, and is a fine example of how much progress can be made with focus and consistency.” 

Find out more about the NVL by clicking here.