KFUM Volda withdraws women’s team from top volleyball league

KFUM Volda Volleyball has withdrawn its women’s team from Norway’s top division for the coming season, NRK reports. The club’s board made the decision at a meeting on Tuesday.

Chairman Matz Åsebø said the situation was sad and disappointing.

“Our main focus now is to look after the players who remain,” Åsebø said.

The club said it was neither sporting nor practically responsible to complete a full season at the highest level with its current squad.

Two of the team’s best players have decided not to continue, several younger players do not want to commit to the same extent, and the head coach has moved to another club. Bernt Humberset, who was assistant coach last season, will temporarily take over as head coach.

“Taken together, there is no basis for having a top division team. We would have preferred to clarify this earlier, but given the situation, we unfortunately have to take a step down,” Humberset said.

The club will be placed in a lower division and will not be allowed to return to the top division for at least two seasons. It will also have to pay a fine, according to the club.

KFUM Volda has struggled to recruit players for a long time. Humberset said the club had been small and vulnerable, but had managed to strengthen its squad with local younger players since 2019.

The club played in the top division last season and secured another season at that level in the spring. It will instead retain a team in the second division and focus on building the best possible programme for the players who remain.