Interview with the Volleyball Men's Team Captain Calvin Fellow

What do you want to achieve this semester with the volleyball team?

Well so far, I believe this season has been a real success. We currently stand 2nd in our BUCS League and have a semi final of the cup this Wednesday (12 March 2014)! I would love to at east reach the final of the cup and maybe even go on to win it!



How/Why did you start playing volleyball?

Well volleyball is far from a popular sport in the UK but for some reason we always had a net in our back garden whilst growing up. I used to play with my friends and siblings but never played in an actual league. My brother played Volleyball at his University and told me it was a lot of fun so I joined the Anglia Ruskin team in the first year. It’s amazing how a few years down the road I am now captaining the team! I never saw that coming.




Which kind of training has the most positive impact for the team?

I think that when we have an extremely intense session it brings the team closer as a unit. We all work hard together and we all ache the next day together. I have played many different team sports at a high level and none of them require the level of teamwork that Volleyball does. If we are all working together in training and staying focused then I believe success will naturally follow.



Why do you think are the ARU volleyball teams so successful?

There are a few factors I can think of. For a small university it is amazing that we can compete at such a high level. I personally think it is because ARU has a wide range of international students from all over Europe. As I stated before, in the UK volleyball is not such a big sport but in other European countries it is taken more seriously. Every year we have many different nationalities such as Germans, Bulgarians, Brazilians, Italians and many other countries. Because we are a University that attracts international students I think this works in our favour when recruiting players. We have had players who have played at very high levels in their home countries which is a massive bonus to the team. Also, the University has changed the management of the sports department and made it far more organised and functional. This has made it easier for Lilly and me to concentrate on playing matches as opposed to filling out forms and arranging transport to venues.




How important is winning the game for you?

Well everyone wants to win. It always feels great when you are on the bus home celebrating a victory but personally, I am actually more concerned with how the team plays as opposed to the final result. There have been some matches this season where we have won comfortably but I have still been angry. I would rather the team play to the best of their ability and lose than win without breaking a sweat. As long as my players always give 100%, whether in training or a match situation then I will always be proud of them. I guess it is not so much the win, but more the manner in which we win.