- Sports
- 18/03/2026
Two more Golden Games for Tamar volleyball players
Student volleyball association Tamar still has two very interesting matches ahead this season. On Wednesday, March 25, Men’s Team 2 will face Bergeijk 1, and Men’s Team 4 will take on Hoogeloon 1. One match is exciting, the other mainly fun. When does Tamar label a match a Golden Game?
Tamar’s match secretary Mirthe Verdurmen not only started her second year of ICT studies at Fontys in the 2025–26 academic year, but also began coordinating with last year’s match secretary. Together, they selected one Golden Game for each of the twelve volleyball teams. “We look at evenly matched opponents and/or teams Tamar has a good relationship with, and they’re always home games.”
These home matches are played on Wednesday evenings in the tennis hall of Sportcomplex Noord. Training sessions for all teams take place on Monday evenings at the Student Sports Center, but that aside. Tamar competes in the recreational league, with all opponents coming from Eindhoven or nearby villages. Teams are divided into top division, transitional division, and first through fourth divisions.
“Women’s Team 2 was relegated to a lower division last year, so we rate that team highly. Then their match against an equally strong opponent becomes a Golden Game,” says Verdurmen. “For Men’s Team 1, we selected a match against ABC Volleyball 1. ABC is a club where our former students often go after graduating. This time, two former members were playing, which makes it fun to watch.”
March 25
The excitement in Tamar 2’s match against Bergeijk 1 lies in the head-to-head standings. “H2 can’t be relegated, because the sixth team in their league is far behind. But H2 is tied with Bergeijk 1 in fourth place. Both teams have won 26 sets in 14 matches—out of a possible 56,” says the match secretary. “It’s not a bad result. H2 was promoted to the transitional division last year, and their goal of staying up has been achieved. This is their final match.”
The match between Men’s Team 4 and Hoogeloon is less tense, as Tamar only needs to win one set (out of four) to become champions. That would promote them to the second division next year. “We didn’t expect this, since it’s their first year in the third division.”
During Golden Games, players are expected to bring plenty of supporters, with encouragement amplified by drumbeats. These also come in handy during chants like: “That-was-a-super-serve.”
Renovation
“After a Golden Game, we usually have drinks in the canteen, and Tamar players get a drink and a platter of snacks. It’s a shame the municipality is renovating the sports hall until September.”
That renovation is much needed, Verdurmen adds. “There were only two locker rooms—one for men and one for women. But sometimes we use them with six teams at once. Seven new locker rooms will be added.” Until then, post-match drinks will have to be enjoyed with cans in the stands—but that won’t spoil the fun, she believes.
This article was translated using AI-assisted tools and reviewed by an editor
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