TENDRING Volleyball Club’s Jessica Lane admitted being “shocked and excited” after receiving a surprise call-up by England.

The 19-year-old, who lives in Frinton, has been picked for the senior women’s team for next month’s Global Challenge Cup, in Croatia.

It will be the first time the England senior women’s team have played together since the London 2012 Olympics.

And after being chosen to play, Lane, who will be joined by Tendring team-mate Millie Stamp, said she is looking forward to the experience of rubbing shoulders with international players and Olympians.

“I’m really excited about it,” said the former Frinton Primary School and Tendring Technology College student, who played for Tendring in the elite Super 8s campaign.

“I’d been along to four or five training camps prior to the selection and really didn’t expect to be included in the squad.

“I’m one of the babies in the squad and saw the camps as good experience, with a view to hopefully being involved with the senior team next year.

“Then I got an e-mail to say I’d been chosen and I couldn’t believe it.

“I was shocked and excited and I’ll never forget the day because I’d just stepped out of an A Level exam.

“I checked my phone and saw a message from my mum, saying we’d received an e-mail with the good news.”

England’s senior men’s and women’s teams were forced to disband due to a funding cut, after the London Olympics.

They still ran junior and cadet teams but this is the first time the senior women’s team have played together again.

“It’s going to be such a special experience,” added setter Lane, who is unable to play for Tendring next year as she hopes to be going to university in Sheffield.

“It’s a massive step up and I’ve noticed that just in training.

“You learn so much more about the game and tactics, as well as technique.

“We’ve got two London Olympians in our squad and it’s also really nice to be in the squad with Millie.

“It’ll be nice to know someone else in the squad and we’ve played together before at junior and cadet levels.

The Global Challenge Cup gets under way in Croatia on July 11.