Volleyball returns after 10 years

By the time Guernsey's volleyball squads touch down in the Faroe Islands next year, it will have been 10 long years since their sport was included in the Island Games.

Gotland 2017 was the last time volleyball took to the courts, although there was a brief foray into Beach Volleyball for the women’s team in Gibraltar 2019.

Things have changed a lot within the sport in the last 10 years, although a few faces hoping to represent Guernsey next year will be familiar.

Carly Tucknott loves the Island Games. She loves it so much she's represented Guernsey at 3 different sports since 2003. The Faroe Islands could be her 9th time out.

After tennis, then table tennis, she switched to volleyball for the Jersey games in 2015

Carly says the reason she’s such a fan of the Island Games is “the way every sport comes together and it’s so nice to see all of the Guernsey teams together in one place.”

Having been used to playing individual sports, volleyball has become her passion.

"Coming into a team has been a completely different experience. All these girls are my friends, we get on so well, it's just fun every time we play together. And you can pick each other up if you're having a bad game."

“I get extremely proud to be putting on a Guernsey shirt and waving the Guernsey flag.”

Tucknott says it’s been rough to not have the focus of the island games but they’ve kept working hard, training to stay competitive and says they’re now putting the team back together to be Island Games ready.

For others looking for a place in the squad next year, an Island Games is a total unknown. 14-year-old Delphine Snedden hadn’t even started school when Guernsey played in Gotland 10 years ago.

She was introduced to the sport 2 years ago whilst living in Canada. For her the aim is to make the team.

“I think it would be a good experience and help me to improve. It’s a goal I’d like to set. It’s good to play new teams and have new competition.”

Jake Elmy is their head coach, having taken up the role this season. He has a long family history with the sport. 

His focus on the ladies team doesn’t slow down his own personal ambitions to be part of the men’s team in the Faroes too. If he had more than 24 hours in a day, he’d also want to be part of a beach volleyball team.

But the Guernsey Volleyball Association doesn’t have any plans to send a beach volleyball team next year, so for Jake that’s one thing off his plate.

Of his Ladies team he says: “We’re in a bit of a tough phase at the moment, we’re developing. We’ve got some new players, we’ve got some older players, we’re trying to link it all together and become one big team. The girls are making some really good strides going forwards.”

“We’ve had a lot of really good conversations this year about who wants to go, and all the girls are showing really good promise. I can see the desire in every single player, they want to get to the best they can ahead of the Island Games.”

Ambition wise for the Ladies, Elmy says a mid-table finish would be a realistic goal for them.

Also taking on a new coaching role this season is Robbie Le Messurier who is looking after the men’s team.

“I’ve never played in the Island Games myself, a lot of our guys haven’t had that opportunity so the idea of playing in 2027 is exciting for us.”

They’ve been keeping busy with the Hampshire league set up in recent years which they won four seasons in a row. But what might await them in the Faroes is an unknown. 

Robbie says: “There is so much variation between the islands. Because we haven’t played anyone in 10 years it’s hard to know where we stand but we’re excited to find out.”

“Representing Guernsey at the Island Games would be absolutely amazing, it’s the highest level we can represent the island at, it would mean a lot.”

Nick Gaudion is a familiar name in Island Games volleyball having represented Guernsey at four games. After a break from the sport he’s rejoined this season and admits the lure of the Faroes is part of the reason.

“I wanted to get back into the competitive edge and get back into a high level of sport. For us it’s the very highest level we can play at, we don’t get a huge amount of exposure to a really elite level of the sport. It’s their national sport for some of these islands, so setting yourself against the very best is excellent.”

He added: “We know the standard they were at 10 years ago but we have no idea the standard they are now. I think we are lucky and our guys have come on leaps and bounds and the squad we have is different to the squad we had 10 years ago. We want to go and test ourselves and really push for medals but it’s really hard to know what we’re up against.”

Whilst he’s thinking about medals there’s another thing on teammate Oliver Martel-Welsh’s to do list.

He could be the third generation of his family to represent the island at volleyball - following in the footsteps of his parents - Ross Martel and Gemma Welsh and paternal grandparents, Tony and Christine Martel.

Oliver said: “I’ve got several siblings but I was the only one that took interest in the sport. I love the co-operation, how much communication there is and the bonding between the team to perform well."

While he’s excited about the opportunity and determined to be part of the team he says: “It means a lot to represent the island and I want to make my family proud, but it’s definitely on my to do list to break some family records.”

Whatever the outcome, it’s clear that those involved in volleyball are ready to be back in the Island Games.