18 March 2010
International reunion for volleyball alumni
Photo opportunities:
- 2-4pm on Saturday, March 20th at the Institute of Sport and Exercise, University of Dundee. Teams from over the years will take part in a mixed tournament.
- 6.30pm on Saturday, March 20th at Dundee University Students Union. Former and current members will take part in a Ceilidh.
Almost 100 current and former members of the University of Dundee Volleyball Club will this
weekend meet up for a reunion on the court and at the bar, with some travelling from overseas
for the event.
The alumni reunion weekend, taking place on Saturday and Sunday, March 20th-21st, will see
former members from the past five decades rekindle their memories of student sport and meet up
with old friends as well as the new crop of volleyball stars.
Activities for the weekend include a recreational tournament and a challenge match between
current and former students on Saturday afternoon, and a Ceilidh in the evening.
Paul McPate, Assistant Director of the University’s Institute for Sport and Exercise (ISE) said
the idea of the reunion at this time is to celebrate the recent successes of the club, and to
recognise the strong bonds that existed between former members.
'The Volleyball Club has always provided a welcoming, friendly and supportive environment,'
he said. 'This is reflected in the fact that we have former members travelling to Dundee from
throughout Britain and the continent for this weekend's celebration.
'Although there is an age span of 40 years amongst those that will be present, everyone who
attends will have the common bond of having been a volleyball club member.
'Volleyball is a sport which is particularly popular in other European countries and this has
always been reflected in the wide variety of nationalities within the club. Over thirty
different nationalities have been involved with the club during the last 25 years.
'Lifelong friendships have been formed here, and the club has even produced one wedding,
with a couple tying the knot in 1994 after first meeting at the club!'
That couple, Phil and Liz Hudson, will be among those attending this weekend’s reunion.
The club currently has 20 nations represented in its membership of 90, and is one of the
University’s most successful sports clubs. It has provided numerous players for Scottish
Universities Select Squads for both men and women, and several members have represented their
country at international level over the years.
Last year, Catherine Smy was selected for the Senior Scottish Women's Squad for the European
Championships as well as being named Dundee University Sports Union Sportswoman of the Year:
The club was also named Sports Union Club and Team of the Year in 2009. The women’s team
recently won the British Universities and Colleges Sport Trophy, while their male counterparts
won the Scottish Universities League and Cup double and have been unbeaten in league competition
for two years.
For media enquiries contact:
Grant Hill
Press Officer
University of Dundee
Nethergate, Dundee, DD1 4HN
TEL: 01382 384768
E-MAIL: g.hill@dundee.ac.uk
MOBILE: 07854 953277 |
