Eccles Sixth Form College Triumphs at AOC Regional Volleyball Finals, Secures Place in National Finals

Eccles College proudly hosted the AOC Regional Volleyball Finals on Thursday, November 30th, featuring seven colleges from the region, including the formidable Xaverian, last year's National Finalists. Despite facing challenges in rebuilding their squad post-lockdown, Eccles emerged triumphant, showcasing the resilience that has made them succeed in the sport.

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Traditionally a hotbed of Volleyball success, Eccles faced the Manchester College in their opening game, securing a convincing victory with a 21-6 score line. Tyler Carter, the team captain and Level 3 Coaching student, played a crucial role, serving 11 consecutive winners. The following pool game against Loreto presented a tougher challenge, but Eccles displayed their ability, securing a quick win and a spot in the Semi-Finals.

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In a surprising turn of events, Xaverian faced difficulties against other colleges and exited the competition early, setting the stage for Eccles to face Trafford in the Semi-Finals. Superior firepower from Oliver Sampson (Vocational A Levels) and Kayden Jones (Level 2 Sport) led Eccles to a hard-fought victory, earning them a place in the final.

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The climactic final pitted Eccles against Loreto once again, the only team undefeated apart from Eccles. Eccles took the first set with strategic plays from Callum Trelfa (Level 3 Coaching) and impeccable floor defence from Amaury Cordova (Business Level 3). The second set proved more challenging, with a neck-and-neck battle until Eccles surged ahead, securing the win as Loreto's morale waned. The victory was met with triumph from the 50 spectators in attendance, as they mobbed the winning Eccles team.

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Rich Lee, Coach of the Team, expressed pride in the team's achievement, stating, "We have started to rebuild Volleyball once again after years of success here, and it's so prideful to be working with this team who are so keen to learn and develop. We have won through to National Finals once again after a 4-year wait, and we're back!"

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The Eccles team is now set to travel to Nottingham University in April to represent the North West in the National Finals, anticipating a larger stage with thousands in attendance. Lee emphasised the team's readiness for the challenge, marking a significant milestone in their journey to reclaiming Volleyball glory.