Essex University are celebrating a double success after both their men’s and women’s volleyball teams were crowned champions.

The Essex Blades teams won their respective British Universities and Colleges (BUCS) South East Conference Cups, in their first full year of competition.

Both of the Performance Sport teams, led by head coach Alex Porter, beat Royal Holloway in their respective finals.

They each won 3-0 to finish the season unbeaten in BUCS league and cup competition and finish top of League South East 2B.

Meanwhile, Essex Blades’ basketball teams have also performed superbly in their first-ever season under head coach, Mark Lloyd.

The men’s team won all ten of their matches to finish top of League South East 2B.

And the women’s team finished as South East Conference Cup runners-up, after losing to Hertfordshire in the final.

Essex University’s performance sport manager Dr Mike Callan said: “These are remarkable results for two programmes in their embryonic stages.

“It has only been possible because of the commitment of the coaches and the student athletes, juggling their academic and sporting demands and the co-operation, hard work and commitment of an army of people and partners, both inside and outside the university.”