England call for volleyball quartet

James Ledbury, David Hodson, Andrew Pearson and Will Evans have been selected for the NEVZA International Championships in Finland from October 25 to 27.

Ledbury has the additional honour of being named captain for this year’s competition.

Pete Bragg, chairman and founder of Stourbridge Volleyball Club, said: “What a great honour for Black Country Volleyball Club and a fantastic achievement.

“In the 20 years of grassroots volleyball being developed across the Black Country, these are some of the most talented players that we have produced so far, this is providing the platform for the clubs future success and National participation in the sport.

“It is also fantastic news and well deserved that James Ledbury a former Stourbridge and Black Country player has been recognised to lead the national squad as England captain for 2019.”

The tournament is contested by a host of top national teams, including Denmark, Faroe Islands, Finland, Greenland, Iceland, Norway and reigning champions Sweden.

After securing a bronze medal in 2017, England will be hoping to progress further this time around.

There are several international caps between the quartet, who are currently playing for National League and university sides, with Ledbury and Hodson playing for University of Nottingham, Pearson for Stourbridge and Evans for Tettenhall.

Black Country Volleyball Club is made up of several clubs in the region, which the foursome have all played for, including Stourbridge, Tettenhall, Telford and Cleobury Mortimer.