Life's A Beach

By Simon Rushworth

Fri 15th Jun 2012 : 11:59

A vintage year for Northumbria University volleyball was capped by a brilliant win in the 2012 Beach Student Cup.

Once again it was Team Northumbria who took the honours after an incredible 12 months for the Sport Central club.

 
Earlier this year the women’s squad stunned the volleyball world by taking the national title in their rookie top flight season.
 
And two of David Goodchild’s all-conquering side took that championship-winning form into the final major tournament of the year.
 
Magda Ropiak and Luca Toth were central to TN’s indoor success – culminating in a superb win against Leeds Carnegie in the 2012 Super Eights final.
 
And the in-form duo teamed up again to defeat all-comers on the Bournemouth sand.
 
“The Beach Student Cup is a big tournament within British volleyball and Magda and Luca made quite an impression,” said TN’s head coach Goodchild.
 
“As a club we have enjoyed a terrific season and we continue to go from strength to strength.”
 
Ropiak and Toth eased into a competition moved to the indoor sand of Oakmead College Of Technology due to poor weather conditions.
 
And the TN pair never looked fazed by the late change of venue as they sailed into the Final Fours.
 
Ropiak and Toth faced King’s College in the semi-finals and beat the favourites in straight sets (21-15, 21-19).
 
Next up were Bath University’s Jess Grimson and Lizzie Smith - fresh from their first Volleyball England beach tour win at Great Yarmouth.
 
And TN’s Super Eights stars dealt with their rivals’ high-pressure game before sealing an historic Championship win.
 
Earlier TN’s Kieran Sowden and Attila Berndt had looked on course to match their female counterparts.
 
The Sport Central pair sailed through the group stages of the men’s doubles competition with a 100% record.
 
But Sowden and Berndt found the going tough in the knockout stages and returned to Tyneside empty handed.
 
“All of our players gave a great account of themselves and continue to put Northumbria volleyball on the national map,” added Goodchild.
 
“The sport should enjoy a surge in interest during the Olympics and we are very much at the forefront of developing volleyball in Britain.”

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The Team


Simon Rushworth

Position: Media Manager
Home town/city: Blyth, Northumberland
Favourite sport: Football/Basketball
Sporting hero: Sir Bobby Robson
 

Tim Andrews

Position: Media Intern
Degree: Psychology
Favourite sport: Tennis
Sporting hero: Roger Federer

Daniel Bracken

Position: Media Volunteer
Degree: Sports Management
Favourite Sport: Tennis
Sporting Hero: Andre Aggasi

Kristopher Foston

Position: Media Volunteer
Hometown: North Shields
Degree: Media and Journalism
Favourite Sport: Football
Sporting Hero: Sir Bobby Robson

Kieran Gill

Position: Media Volunteer
Hometown: Hartlepool
Degree: Journalism & English Literature
Favourite Sport: Tennis
Sporting Hero: Roger Federer
 

Michael Race

Position: Media Intern
Hometown: Newcastle
Degree: Sport Exercise and Nutrition
Favourite sport: Cricket/Football
Sporting hero: Jonathon Trott

Jamie Durent

Position: TN Football Writer
Home town/city: Stockton-on-Tees
Degree: Media & Journalism Graduate
Favourite sport: Football 
Sporting hero: Ray Lewis (American Football player for Baltimore Ravens)