YORK Phoenix have retained their Yorkshire Volleyball Premier League title after beating Leeds 3-0.

Phoenix captain Victoria Eaton and setter Pam Beadman have missed much of the season as they are expecting babies in July but the squad's strength in depth paid dividends.

Their only defeat came at the hands of cross-city rivals York VC, who grabbed the runners-up spot despite a series of defeats early on in the season

Both York teams forgot their rivalry last weekend when players from both sides made up the North Yorkshire team attending the English Volleyball Association County Cup in Cheshire.

The competition, involving nine women's teams, was run in a league rather than a knock-out basis, and although they lost their first game to eventual winners London, North Yorkshire won the rest of their fixtures to finish second overall.

Updated: 10:41 Tuesday, May 24, 2005