Team UQ claims Nationals Div 2 medals

Two University of Queensland teams have won medals at the inaugural UniSport Nationals Div 2 event on the Gold Coast.

The UQ women’s volleyball side won gold, defeating Flinders University 3-2 in the final,  securing promotion to Nationals Div 1 next year.

The squad won nine of its 10 matches, including a dramatic 3-2 semi-final victory over Queensland rivals Griffith University.

UQ captain Michaela Shuttleworth said the side performed consistently over the four days of competition.

“We faced some stiff competition from a number of universities, particularly Griffith and Deakin, but our team rose to the challenge on every occasion,” Ms Shuttleworth said.

“The sideline support we received from our fellow UQ teammates was incredible and certainly drove us to achieve our goal of finishing top two.”

In the women’s basketball, UQ was defeated 70-64 by QUT in a close gold medal contest streamed live by UniSport.

The silver medal result means UQ is also eligible to compete in women’s basketball at Nationals Div 1 next year.

The push for promotion by the UQ men’s basketball team ended with an after-the-buzzer 36-35 quarter-final loss to Swinburne University of Technology.

UQ then defeated Griffith University 35-33 to finish fifth overall.

UQ’s touch football team recovered from a winless opening day to finish fifth, following a 7-3 victory over University of Canberra.

Event highlights will be broadcast on Fox Sports throughout September and October.

More than 400 UQ students are expected to compete in 24 sports at September’s Nationals Div 1 event from 22 to 27 September.

2018 UniSport Nationals Div 2 – Team UQ results

Women’s Volleyball – 1^st

Gold medal match: UQ defeated Flinders University  3-2

Women’s Basketball – 2^nd

Gold medal match: QUT defeated UQ  70-64

Men’s Basketball – 5^th

5^th / 6^th playoff: UQ defeated Griffith University  35-33

Men’s Touch Football – 5^th

5^th / 6^th playoff: UQ defeated University of Canberra  7-3

Media: Jamie Mitchell, UQ Sport, JamieM@uqsport.com.au, 0423 785 752.