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We are the volleyball club of choice in Rugby Warwickshire, with both adult and junior teams for boys and girls aged 11-16. We offer the opportunity to play in the West Midlands regional leagues and new players of all abilities are always welcome.
Please have a look around the webpages to find out more about us or email us for more information.
Rugby Phoenix Volleyball Club are holding their inaugural 4-aside Olympic Legacy tournament on July 1st at Harris School, Rugby.
See our tournament page for more information and registration details
The date for the AGM has been set as Saturday June 16th at 6:30. All Rugby Phoenix players are invited, including the full paying Juniors, where the customary awards ceremony will be followed by the BBQ.
Venue will be Aneel & Janet’ s this year – please let Nikki know if you are coming.
This years AGM has been timed to ensure that all of the players returning to Germany can be there.
If you haven’t yet given Nikki your awards votes, please can you send her an email with your votes for the following categories –
Best Men’s player (Div 2)
Best Men’s player (Div 3)
Best Women’s player
Best newcomer
Most improved player
Club person
With the indoor season coming to an end, Rugby Phoenix are planning their social summer sessions, commencing on May 10th @ 7pm and Sunday May 13th @ 6pm @ Recreation Ground adjacent to the Ken Marriott Sport Centre.
The cost will be £1 for non-members per session. Keep coming back to the website for more information closer to the time.
The 2012 tournament is set for July 7th, 2012 and Rugby Phoenix are looking to enter a number of teams for this 1 day event.
If you are interested, please speak to Jan asap as we need to return the entry form asap.
Rugby Phoenix 3 South Birmingham VC 1 (25-15; 15-25; 21-25, 25-13; 15-6)
In a season that has seen Phoenix struggling to find form, they finally showed what could have been with an impressive 3-2 win over South Birmingham VC. With Rugby Phoenix just clinching safety in the division and with South Birmingham chasing the elusive 2nd automatic promotion spot this could have been a very tough game for the home side.
Rugby Phoenix started brightly, as they had done on the two previous encounters against South Birmingham this season, and really took control in the opening set. Skipper Mark Fielding hit the ball all over the court and found several gaps in the opposition defence. Jacob Jarek also contributed with several strong attacks and Rugby really got in to a rhythm. The defensive passing from libero Dmitrijs Ledkovs and middle hitter Andy Nicklin was where Rugby really excelled though as they managed to their setters to create some devastating attacks. Rugby closed out the set in a fine manor to take the lead in the game.
As with so many games this season concentration dropped at the start of the second set and the away team started to find their hitting range. Rugby got caught cold on one defensive rotation and Birmingham served well to make sure Rugby struggled to get out of it. By the time they made it round the set was almost over and Birmingham managed to wrap up the remaining points to tie the game.
Heads had dropped by the start of the third set and Birmingham could sense they were onto something. Again with Rugby caught in a difficult rotation the away side took advantage and pushed on to take the third set and a lead of 2-1 in the match.
The fourth set was the turning point in the match as coach Jon Chetham introduced himself into the game and immediately Rugby looked a different side. Simon Jones combined well with Chetham to open up a lead which was assisted by some fine serving from Aneel Khanna. Matt Glenn chased everything on the back court to make sure Rugby weren’t going to surrender without a fight. Incredibly the power balance shifted and Rugby took control again racing to victory and tie the game up at 2 sets all.
With the momentum on their side Rugby knew all they had to do was keep their heads and victory would be theirs. The experienced home team players stepped up and made sure that Rugby would be enjoying only their 5th win of the season with a brilliant performance that left Birmingham with little chance of getting anything.
A fantastic result for the home side who will surely be a late contender for fourth spot and that last champions league place?
Rugby Phoenix 0 Telford 3 ( 24-26; 12-25; 25-27)
Division 2 Rugby Phoenix Volleyball Club just missed out on promotion going down 0-3 to a strong Telford team in this end of season promotion battle.
Missing Verena Stoebener, Phoenix set about the match strongly, matching Telford point for point in the early exchanges. With both teams unable to break though as their defenses remained strong, the deciding points came down to 2 errors giving the 1st set to Telford.
The 2nd set was a different game altogether. Phoenix, unable to cope with Telfords stonger attack following a player change, took an early 3-12 lead which led to Telford running out eventual 12-25 winners.
Telford appeared to have the momentum with them in the 3rd but having taken a 5-10 lead, Rugby found their form again and slowly came back into the match and with the match tied 24-24, Rugby just failed to finish off the set losing 25-27.
A disappointing end to the season, but one that has given Phoenix hope for next year.
Below is the text received from Volleyball England reconfirming our Volley 1 (Clubmark) accreditation – well done to all involved. The accreditation reinforces our commitment to Junior players & competition.
Rugby Phoenix are now officially re-accredited as a Volley 1 (Clubmark) club for the next four years! Well done to you and all the club volunteers for your hard work – the club now remains part of the Volley 123 network, a group of well organised and accessible sports clubs, safe and welcoming to young people.
The panel assessed your folder today and there was some great feedback:
My colleague Pippa (copied in) will be in touch shortly about the award arrangements, e.g. the banner. I would also like to write a short article about the club’s success, please would you be able to send me over a photo of the club? If you prefer, then you could also wait to take one with your brand new banner – I’ll be in touch shortly with the article draft anyway!
Have a good weekend and congratulations again!
Kate
Kate Rothery
National Club & Membership Development Officer
Volleyball England
Persian Phoenix 3 Rugby Phoenix Men’s 1st Team 0
Rugby Phoenix Mens 1st team away form hasn’t been great this season and it proved to be the case again as they headed to their favourite sports centre in Birmingham for the 4th time this year.
Facing a tough Persian Phoenix side who are looking to bounce straight back up to the first division Rugby started the game slowly. Gifting the opposition several early points and let them establish an easy lead. As the case with most of the season though Rugby fought back strongly. Some tough serving some Aneel Khanna edged the away side into the lead and with Dmitrijs Ledkovs passing well from the back Rugby managed to gain some all important momentum. With the game 23-20 in Rugbys favour Persian Phoenix used some time outs to a good tactical advantage and snatched the opening set from under Rugby¹s noses.
With the disappointment from losing the opening exchange Rugby were rallied by captain Mark Fielding who gave an inspirational speech. It was to no avail though as Rugby were unable to deal with a strong serve from the opposition and ended up getting caught out several times. Eventually Lee Cowperthwaite took control at the back and helped Rugby to advance round but the guests were always playing catch up from that point onwards. Persian used their middle attack well and closed out the second set by a comfortable margin.
Not wanting to leave empty handed Rugby tried to go back to their first set form. Simon Jones set for Jacob Jarek to find the gaps and Andy Nicklin did everything right but the hosts were just too strong. With Persian stepping up their game once more they pushed on leaving Rugby to slump to another away day defeat.
A disappointing defeat that leaves Rugby looking over their shoulders as they battle to stay in the division. It should also be noted that despite losing their 3 best players (and borrowing 2 from the home side) Rugby played on and managed to pick up 2 sets in a friendly encounter.
Rugby Phoenix Mens 2nd Team 0 Wood Green 3 (18-25; 20-25; 13-25)
Another tough game for the Men’s second team ended in defeat but not for the want of effort from the Rugby Phoenix men. Things could have been different as Rugby took the lead early in the first set. Blocking well and with an inform James Haigh hitting well things looked good for the home side. The run-away leaders of the division bucked up their ideas and stole the lead back before closing the set out.
Rugby didn’t let this dishearten them though as they put in another great performance in the second set. Wood Green carried on where they left off though, but only managed to win the set by 5 points.
Unfortunately for Rugby their heads dropped in the final set despite some notable performances from Lee Cowperthwaite and Adam Bryans.
Rugby Phoenix Women 1 Wood Green Women 3 (25-23; 22-25;17-25; 26-28)
In their penultimate game, Rugby Phoenix took on Wood Green for the third and final encounter between the two teams for the season.
With Wood Green winning the previous two meetings, Rugby knew they would have to start strong and give their opponents little chance. The home side managed to take a small lead early on in the match and then traded points through-out the rest of the set. Mirjam Greiner hit well and was assisted by the strong serving by Captain Jan Wardle as Rugby edged the set and take the lead in the match.
Wood Green came back into the match in the second set but Rugby weren’t going to give it to them without a fight. Vicky Nealon came into the game and put a lot of pressure on the away sides defence and with Sabine Innes picking up everything at the back Rugby were really going toe to toe with the league leaders . Wood Green managed to gain a small lead at a vital time in the set and won it to level the game.
The start of the third set put Rugby on the back foot as they failed to contain a tough serve from the away team and subsequently found themselves eight points behind. The set was always about catch up after that, and with Verena Stoebener hitting well Rugby almost clawed a way back into the set but were just caught short.
The fourth set was all about long rallies as both sides battled for control of the set. Jo Lewis and Nikki Wardle set up some big blocks to give Rugby a lead and they almost took the set until Wood Green struck back right at the end. With the set finely poised at 26 all Wood Green forced a couple of errors and won the set.
Another great game from the women who will hope to get back to winning ways with their final game of the season.
