Netball Super League | England U21 powerhouse set to return to Lightning for season two

Loughborough Lightning have announced that 19-year-old Loughborough University student Jas Oeogberin will return to the fold for the 2021 Vitality Netball Superleague, making it a perfect ten in their line-up so far.

In an explosive start to her debut, Odeogberin was a key feature in the Lightning side to claim the title in the 2019 British Fast5 All-Stars competition. Her performance in that competition then led to court time in Lightning’s opening matches of the 2020 season.

“I think it was definitely nerve racking before the season started last year but the team were all so supportive. I always felt like I had a really strong support system on court and off court during matches and it’s just disappointing that we didn’t get to push on and see where we could’ve gone together.”

Combining training with her studies, Odeogberin has recently started her 2nd year of a Geography degree at Loughborough University;

“I’m going into my second year of my degree. The first season with the girls was really good, I really loved the training environment and it just made sense to come back this season.

“I really enjoyed my first year at Loughborough, it had a really good balance of sport and academics and fun and it was so good to be around so many sporty people which I’d never really experienced before. “

Odoegberin made her debut into the VNSL with London Pulse in the 2019 season after an impressive international debut with England U17s at just 16 years old. She has since risen through the Roses Academy, having captained the U17s tour to Australia and is now a regular feature in the England U21 side.

Now competing for Lightning’s NSL and U21 squad alongside the university’s BUCS (British Universities and Colleges Sport) side, Odoegberin is relishing being back on campus with her teammates;

“It’s been really good to be back so far; it’s been tough training with Lightning and the BUCs team at the same time, but it’s been good to be back on court and playing netball again.”

“I’m really looking forward to playing again, it feels so long since we’ve had games, so it will be fun to actually play but to also see how we come out of this period and see how we’ve adapted and how we push this season.”

Looking ahead to the 2021 season, Odeogberin is raring to go;

“Because the season got cut short last year, I want to just continue to build on coming into a newish team and to really push myself in training and see what opportunities I can get from that.”

Head Coach, Sara Bayman shared her excitement as Odeogberin’s return;

“We’ve tried to recruit the best young English talent in recent years and these players are exactly that. We saw a glimpse of what they could do last season and I’m excited to see much more from them this year.”

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