00:00Invicta Volleyball's women's team currently compete in the third division of the National
00:03League but they have aspirations of playing at the top level here in the UK, the Super
00:08League.
00:09And to achieve that goal they've brought in a new coach, Nathan French, who once competed
00:13for Team GB at the 2012 Olympics and has also played abroad.
00:17I do have high ambitions for my Division 3 team.
00:20The FEMA I do think we're going to push to Division 2 within the season.
00:23I'm also looking to execute and win in the Shield.
00:27So I really want to win silverware this year, along with the men's.
00:31The men's have, unfortunately they didn't get across to Division 1 this year, that is
00:36going to be the ambition.
00:37Anything short of Division 1 for the following season, that's what we're pushing for.
00:42And then it's that Super League structure.
00:44So I do think within the season, Invicta will be on the map, within the two seasons people
00:50are going to want to come to this club.
00:52Today marks the tryouts for the next season which sees returning players and new faces
00:56trying to earn a spot on the roster.
00:58Now, Invicta Volleyball is a performance team.
01:01So, a player is only guaranteed one season of play.
01:04After that, they have to come back here and try out with everyone else.
01:08And as you've seen, there's a real range of ages.
01:10There are some younger players who come to the tryouts with aspirations of one day making
01:14the heights of the first team.
01:16I think it's really inspiring to have someone that's played high level before to help people
01:21like us learn and play and maybe even get to that level in the future.
01:25And I think, especially if he's experienced stuff like this before, it really helps you
01:29to know that you're doing okay when he tells you what he can.
01:32So his tips and stuff like that really will help you and benefit you in the future.
01:36I feel privileged.
01:37Like, I don't think it's every day you get such an experience and I feel like it's a
01:42once in a lifetime thing and I'm really happy to be here.
01:44Despite the fact that everyone's competing for the same spots, there's a good atmosphere
01:48among the players.
01:48Well, we've got a mixture definitely of cultures and ages, so you've got people from Eastern
01:53Europe, you've got English people, you've got people who played professionally for several
01:57years previously, you've got people who are juniors and at the beginning of their career.
02:01So it's nice to see a mixture from various heights, various ages, various countries, I suppose,
02:07and nationalities.
02:08Yes, different experiences.
02:09It's always very nice to have younger players, they're very energetic and it's very interesting
02:17for us to be with them and, yeah, I mean, it's just a cool environment and we feel welcome
02:24here.
02:24Whether it's a former Olympian giving advice or a large group of players helping each
02:28other, it's looking like Invicta Volleyball are setting themselves up for a strong season.
02:32Finn McDermid for KMTV in Maidstone.
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