Xiaohongshu
Varsity is coming up soon - here are the people who will be leading their teams to victory...
Shellise Durity Wingson, UCL Women's Volleyball
"I’m currently a second year law student, and prior to that I lived in Vancouver, Canada.
I've been playing volleyball since high school, but this is my second year with the UCL Women's 1 Volleyball team. I play the libero position, which specialises in defense!
The best thing about the team is definitely the girls! I’ve made so many close friends that I most likely would not have met if not for volleyball. The relationships we have built on this team will last a lifetime and while it’s always fun to play volleyball, it's special to play with such a great group.
A great volleyball player is determined, focused and works great in a team. We have a great team this year, with our setter Merve Akin, playing in England's top club league, the Superleague. We all work hard to play our best and it definitely shows!
From tryouts alone, it is clear that women’s volleyball is quite popular at UCL. This past season, we had almost 150 people turn up over two try-outs. However, it is unfortunate that we only run one women's team. I believe that with some funding and support, the UCL volleyball club definitely has the potential and the people to improve and expand!
At Varsity 2020, UCL won against Kings in a tough match. Coming off hot after our Championship win at the National Student Cup, I believe we are in a very good position to continue the tradition of victory against Kings. "
Danielle Konig, UCL Women's Football
"I’m studying Biomedical Engineering and am also the captain of the Women’s Football Club. This is my third year in the team. I’ve always loved the sport - I started playing football when I was four and haven’t stopped since!
Being part of UCLWFC really has been one of the highlights of my time at UCL. I love football and getting to play every week with friends is a great way to stay active and take a break from the stress of university while having fun.
My standout memory from this year has been scoring a penalty shot vs Kings in our first match against them. Sure, last year was tough, and definitely not the result we wanted but this year the team has really come together. We beat Kings when we played them last term and we've just been getting better since. The team and the coaches are putting in a lot of work in the next few weeks to make sure we're at our best for Varsity so I'm feeling confident we can bring the trophy back to UCL where it belongs!"
Ella McCarthy, UCL Women's Hockey Club
"This is my 2nd year in UCLWHC, I joined last year as a fresher.
Being part of a team has enabled me to continue evolving as a player, every single teammate or coach I’ve had has had an impact on how I play. I think I am being genuine when I say everyone I’ve played with has inspired me to some extent to improve and be a better player, teammate, or captain. Of course there are loads of great players past and present who I aspire to play like, but my “heroes” are really the people I play with week in, week out, who remind me how much I love the sport.
Teamwork and good communication are probably the two most important skills to have as a hockey player. You’re playing in a team of 11 so whilst having quick stick skills and great stamina is helpful, it ultimately comes down to how well you can interact with the other players to create a cohesive unit rather than a team of individuals.
We had a very close game and an unfortunate loss last year but I am confident this year, we have already beaten Kings 4-0 in the BUCS league so absolutely looking to bring that trophy home. The team has been putting the work in both on and off the pitch. We’ve been getting stronger with strength and conditioning sessions, honing our skills at training, and bringing all of this together in match play throughout the season. "