VOLLEYBALL duo Jessica Lane and Fran Smith-Daye added more international caps to their tally after representing England.

They were part of the under-19 team that finished sixth in the Northern European Volleyball Zonal Association Championships.

The Tendring Technology College (TTC) students, both 18, have previously won caps at other international tournaments across Europe.

And they played an instrumental part in their team’s success in Denmark.

Considering England were the only country in the tournament where volleyball is not a professional sport, the girls – who finished joint-second in the Female Sports Personality category at last week’s Tendring Sports Personality Awards – did a great job to take sets off Denmark and Iceland and beat the Faroe Islands 3-2.

Meanwhile, fellow TTC student Jack Nash spent his half-term playing in the under-17 tournament equivalent, in Kettering.

His team finished fifth, again managing to take a set off Norway and beating boththe Faroe Islands and Iceland 3-2.

Nash appeared in every game, gaining valuable match experience – crucial in his bid to cement his starting position in the men’s second team for Tendring Volleyball Club.

He was also named most valuable player (MVP) in the game against the Faroe Islands.

“The college are so proud of all of our sportsmen and women, who have achieved great things in their particular sports,” said TTC PE teacher Rosie Mankee.

“We all appreciate how much (principal) Dr Caroline Haynes and the other members of staff fully support these athletes and their contribution to sport, inside and outside of college.

“It’s great to see the girls and Jack do so well, as they all work so hard.

“We train three times a week at college and then both Fran and Jessica play for the top division in the country, with Tendring Volleyball Club. Training for that can be fairly intense.”

Both Lane and Smith-Daye, from Frinton and Little Clacton respectively, play for Frinton-based Tendring, in the elite Super 8s.

And both girls have aspirations of taking their volleyball to the highest level.

Smith-Daye is hoping to get a professional contract in Europe, while Lane would like to play while studying in America.

Nash had another opportunity to represent England earlier this year, when he and Sophie Lane competed for England Juniors at the Sainsbury’s School Games.

Sophie helped her team win a silver medal, while Nash’s side won gold at the tournament in Manchester.

Sophie captains Tendring’s women’s second team and is part of the school’s Volleyball Academy.