WESSEX now know the final structure of next season’s National Volleyball League Division One campaign.
With the promotion and relegation play-offs now complete, the 2009-10 English top-flight has been announced.
Wessex had hoped for reduced travelling next term, with Loughborough being automatically relegated from Division One along with Reading, and Ashcombe Dorking having won Division Two just ahead of runners-up Portsmouth.
However, competition structure dictates that second and third must play off for the second promotion spot in Division Two and in a huge reversal of form Portsmouth fell to a straight sets defeat against Manchester Tameside.
It will be a very new-look Wessex that takes to the court for their first game of the season at Manchester Tameside on September 12.
However, that date is likely to change as it clashes with a major beach tournament that will see all of Wessex’s internationals in attendance.
England Junior starlets Paige Nelmes and Annie Tinker will be within the Wessex ranks next season along with Southampton-based Charlie Morse, who has now completed her transfer from Division Three outfit New Forest.
Full senior international Vicky Palmer is due back from the USA in the coming days and after her spell on the American beach volleyball circuit she will almost certainly be based in Poole, so her inclusion in next year’s squad is likely alongside sister Sarah.
In the meantime, Wessex travel to Plymouth on June 6-7 to take on 12 other NVL teams in a ranking tournament.
Wessex will be taking a highly competitive team in a bid to win the event after finishing as losing finalists for the last two years.
Leading the squad for the first time will be Phoebe Jeffery who will share the outside attack with Henri Creasy.
The line-up will also include Paula Snow, England international Lizzie Smith, Debbie Spokes, Janna Rogers, Zoe McAulay and Morse.
NVL DIV ONE 2009-10: Ashcombe Dorking, Birmingham University, Dulwich Tuskers, Leeds, Malory Eagles, Manchester Tameside, Polonia, Swiss Cottage, Coventry & Warwick Riga, Wessex.
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