28 Nov 2023
Student Cup round-up (25th and 26th Nov): final eight Pool winners decided
The last eight pools across the women’s and men’s competitions were completed, with the winners going through to play at the University of East Anglia.
The teams who did not qualify automatically who possess the best records across the three hosts venues of Ashcombe, Leeds and Kettering will also progress, while last year’s winners and finalists join the action too.
Click here for a review of matches at Leeds and Ashcombe (18th and 19th November).
Click here for a review of matches at Ashcombe (11th and 12th November).
In Kettering, the women’s Pool F was dominated by Oxford University (pictured above) who conceded only 95 points in winning all four of their matches.
The key match proved to be their 25-19, 25-18 win over second-placed University of Bristol, who themselves were straight set winners over Coventry University, who finished third, Royal Holloway 2 in fourth and Aston University in fifth.
Men’s Pool G was closely contested, with three teams winning three and losing one of their four matches to finish on six points.
Cambridge Blues (pictured above) finished top in the final reckoning courtesy of their superior set difference, while the University of Bristol, in second, and King’s College, London, in third, were separated on points difference.
University of East Anglia were fourth in the group and the University of Warwick fifth.
It was Loughborough Students who headed up the four-team Women’s Pool G after a crucial 2-1 win (21-25, 25-17, 15-12) over nearest rivals Imperial College London.
The University of East Anglia beat the University of West of England in straight sets as the two teams finished third and fourth respectively.
Men’s Pool H saw Coventry University (pictured below) emerge as the dominant force with four wins from four, dropping just one set in the process.
City University London won their other three matches to claim second spot, while Aston University, University of West of England and Cambridge University 2 completed the Pool placings in that order.
The University of Nottingham continued a weekend of success for its volleyball teams – both the women’s and men’s Super League teams were victorious – by winning Women’s Pool H.
They won all three matches but were pushed to three sets by both University of Westminster, who finished second, and University of Essex, who were third. University of Warwick 2 finished fourth.
Men’s Pool I saw London institutions lead the way with University College London heading things up with four wins from four to edge out University of Westminster, who won their other three encounters.
Loughborough Students were third with two wins and two defeats ahead of Exeter University and Cranfield University.
University of Warwick (pictured above) and Exeter University were closely matched in women’s Pool I, both finishing with three wins and a loss after playing each other twice, but it was the former who topped the group on sets difference.
Cranfield University were the other team to compete, with City University London not contesting their matches.
Men’s Pool J was another close-run thing with three teams finishing on six points after three victories and one defeat.
Oxford University’s sets difference saw them finish top, with University of Warwick in second and De Montfort University in third.
University of Essex and University of Plymouth completed the ranking of the pool.
For a full rundown of the weekend’s results and standings, click here.
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