Volleyball Association of Ireland

The UCD Women’s Intervarsity team have proudly kept the Irish flag aloft cross-channel by winning the EVA Students’ Cup for the 3rd time in 4 years. Having already made history on home soil by winning the Irish Intervarsities for the last 6 consecutive years, they now become only the 3rd women’s team to retain the EVA Students’ Cup, while being the only Irish side ever to win the competition.

Yet before even touching a ball, preparations for the UCD girls suffered an ample set back. Courtesy of some adverse weather conditions across England, the team’s delayed flight to Leeds was diverted to Liverpool, followed up by a near two-and-a half hour bus drive through dangerous driving conditions. As a result, the team did not reach Leeds until 4am on the morning of their first match, but this did not deter the focus of the Irish Intervarsity winners.

The team recorded opening day straight-set wins over Leeds University, Hull University and Cambridge University (2-0 in all) with winger Eleanor Dunne notably solid in defense and setter Lisa Moran also impressing despite carrying a knee injury. Those results set the team up nicely for the 2nd day of the competition on which they would play their Quarter Final against rivals Sheffield University who finished 2nd in their opening pool. It was a nervy start to the potentially long day for UCD girls, unassisted by an injury scare to Lyndsey Condell half way through the opening set. They came through 2-0 winners nevertheless, knowing there was room for improvement, while their Semi Final opponents representing London University would provide possibly their strongest challenge yet.

Indeed the Semi Final between UCD and London may have been many people’s dream final to the competition, with both sides up producing fantastic displays of all around attacking and defense. This pairing was no different, particularly by UCD’s middle player Jennifer Walsh, who picked up some incredible hits in defense that had everything in them but to hit the floor. Adding to these defensive heroics was the serving power and accuracy of setter Aileen Minihan, breaking London’s seemingly solid serve-receive in both sets, while the hitting from middle player Marie-Louise Coleman, and not just from the middle, also proved detrimental to the opposition. A 2-0 result in favor of the UCD girls set them up for their 3rd final in the competition, and a final showdown with Loughborough University, who have won the title 11 times since 1985.

Despite a number of anxious unforced errors, the Final itself was notable for the middle blocking of Ruth Stafford, quenching any threat posed by the side from the esteemed Loughborough University, while the clinical finishing from the wings and back court by team captain Noemi Kuncik was outstanding, flooring her hits on nearly all occasions. Wing player Claire Walsh also came of the bench to serve 4-in-a-row that caused chaos in the Loughborough serve-receive. Overall, the fantastic team spirit shown throughout the tournament was ever increasing and helped to pave the way for a historical 25-23, 25-13 victory for UCD. While achieving a perfect competition by not dropping a set throughout, the honors didn’t end there; Noemi Kuncik’s display in the final and during the tournament was merited with the MVP award, adding to the MVP she won in ‘04, while the team was also awarded a special replica trophy on behalf of the EVA to tribute their memorable title wins in ’04 and ’06 along with their most recent feat.

EVA Students' Cup Champions 2007 - UCD

Back Row (L-R): Paul McKeever (Coach), Lyndsey Condell, Marie-Louise Coleman, Ruth Stafford, Jennifer Walsh, Noemi Kuncik (Captain) and Megan Burgdorf (Assistant Coach)

Front Row (L-R): Doireann Counihan (Team Manager), Claire Walsh, Aileen Minihan, Lisa Moran and Eleanor Dunne

Report & Photos by David Herlihy (VAI Office)