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VE Student Cup Qualification Tournament 

With the by now usual number of dropouts and injuries plaguing the Blues squad, Cambridge managed to muster six players to try to qualify for the VE Student Cup, to be played in Leeds in February. Bethan Shaffery was setting, Yvonne Beyer (capt) and Inge Kuiljaars as outsides, Vanessa Nadalin opposite and Maria Haal and Henna Nuitanen in the middle positions. With one team dropped out of their pool the chances of qualification looked good as neither Gloucester or Southampton were strong opponents. Cambridge were to play both teams twice.

Blues 2-0 University of Gloucestershire (25-5, 25-7)

Blues 2-0 University of Gloucestershire (25-8, 25-2)

The Gloucester team were up for a match in both games, but unfortunately were more enthusiastic than talented. Bethan served 7 aces in her opening service run in the first set. By the last set of the second match the Gloucester team were running their bench and hence dropping point after point with errors. The Blues had two solid performances but not much need for performance.

Blues 1-1 Southampton University (25-23, 17-25)

Blues 1-1 Southampton University (16-25, 25-17)

After a tight first set against Southampton in the first match, the Blues slumped badly in the second to lose the match overall by a 6 point margin. Passing errors crept into the first set of the second match too as the team struggled to maintain composure against a Southampton side who had no solid attack but were able to recycle the ineffective Cambridge kill attempts more efficiently. Needing a win in the second set by 10 points, the Blues had an uphill task, but seemed to be on track at the start, breaking away to a 10-3 lead. However, Southampton got back into the game and forced 17 points, winning the match an earning qualification.

After further checks with a particularly unhelpful Cambridge University adminstration, it transpired that the Blues had unwittingly played an ineligible player, and so were not allowed to proceed to Finals as a best-second placing. Amalgamated stats for the day were taken. MVP was Bethan Shaffery

Report by Jon Clarke

Name	Position	Sets Played	Attacks	Kills	Kill Percent	Aces	Blocks	Total Points
Yvonne Beyer	O	8	55	17	31	2	0	19
Maria Haal	M	8	36	14	39	5	1	20
Ingeborg Kuijlaars	O	8	35	3	9	1	0	4
Vanessa Nadalin	R	8	39	13	33	5	2	20
Henna Niutanen	M	8	26	8	31	4	1	13
Bethan Shaffery	S	8	15	5	33	14	0	19
Team Total			206	60	29	31	4	95

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