On 1st March, PMVC ladies travelled to Frinton on Sea, Essex to play Tendring VC in the National Shield Semi Finals.

Tendring VC are an experienced and successful side. Like PMVC in the SW League, they are unbeaten in their league campaign (National League Division 2) and they are no strangers to success in the competition having won the National Shield Last season against Loughbrough Students and have not been tested in their route to the Semi Final this season. They have many up and coming juniors who are well represented in National competitions and some playing for the England U19's Squad.

With their good form, their full squad at their disposal and the home advantage, Tendring were confident of success against the unknown Non- NVL Plymouth side. Plymouth's advantage is that they are in equally good form and they have an underdog status. They also brought a crowd of supporters with them on the minibus to ensure they were not alone. Their Coach, Steve Allen, who had guided them this far in the competition was unable to attend the match but Matt Rhymer was happy to stand in for Steve with Nick Boorman as his assistant.

The first set was close and Tendring were in the lead at the second Technical Time Out. PMVC were able to draw the scores level at 20-20. With both sides trading points, PMVC took first blood and the set 28-26.

In the second set, a rising self belief saw Plymouth take the lead into both TTOs 8-4 and 16-13. The momentum stayed with PMVC as they took the second set 25-18 and gave Tendring a mountain to climb in winning 3 sets in a row to be able to swing the result their way.

The third set was tense for both teams. it was level pegging throughout much of the set. 5-5 then 11-11. Tendring took a slender lead into the second TTO and started to build a lead after the break. They eventually won the 3rd set 25-20.

PMVC rallied in the 4th Set and took a 4-1 lead. Captain Liene Knupke continued with some fine serving and extended the lead to 8-1. Middle hitter, Valeria Minaeva joined in the fun after the TTO with some big blocks and even bigger hits and PMVC were cruising towards victory at 12-2. Tendring started to stage a comeback and brought the score to 12-7 when coach Matt Rhymer called a perfectly timed timeout. PMVC were able to steady themselves and with some aces served up by Ellie Cranch and a monster block from Valeria on their main attacker, PMVC were back on track at 19-11. With PMVC smelling victory they took the score to 23-14 and within touching distance of the final. After numerous match points the SW champions finished off the match 25-19 with some controlled passing followed by a killer spike from Valeria and with it had earned themselves a place in the Final. Having won the match 3-1, they were allowed to celebrate another upset in the Shield and another National League team scalp.

They will take their place alongside some of the best teams in the country for the National Cup Finals weekend in Kettering on 29th March at the National Volleyball Centre. Their opponents will be Loughbrough Students who beat Coventry and Warwick Riga in 5 sets in their Semi Final.

Head coach Steve Allen is jubilant to be heading to the Finals of a major competition, not only because the Team are a non NVL side causing many upsets on the way but also because it is their debut entry in the National Cup/ Shield competition. It is also not his first Shield Final that he has attended - he won the National Shield with Plymouth in 2009 as a player coincidentally also against Loughbrough Students.

The Ladies run in the National Shield competition has firmly put Plymouth back on the volleyball map and we cant wait to see how they perform on their biggest stage yet.