TENDRING Volleyball Club have powered into the men’s National Shield final.

And outside hitter James Baker is eyeing a promotion and silverware double, as he and his team-mates look to end their season on a glorious high.

The Frinton-based team thumped York 3-0 in Saturday’s semi-final, thanks to a 25-15, 25-21, 31-29 success.

Ironically, they now meet rivals Team Essex in the showpiece final, being held at the National Volleyball Centre, in Kettering, on Saturday, March 28 (first serve 10am).

Tendring also still have promotion in their sights, with second spot and a play-off berth still very much up for grabs in National League division one.

“To win the Shield, finish as runners-up and then get promoted would be amazing,” said 20-year-old Baker (pictured).

“We believe that’s possible and that would be a massive achievement, after losing in the play-offs last year.

“It was a really good win against York, on Saturday.

“You never know what you’re going to get from a division three side but we played well and built on the confidence gained from beating Team Essex last Tuesday night.

“We were very clinical and it’s brilliant that we now meet Team Essex again in the final (the Chelmsford-based side won 3-0 against Horndean).

“They beat us at the start of the season but we defeated them in straight sets last week, so it’s 1-1.

“We’re feeling confident and it’s a going to be a real occasion at Kettering.

“It’s a great place to play and both teams will be well-supported, so the atmosphere will be fantastic.

“The stage is perfectly set.”

Aside from their Shield heroics, Tendring have five league fixtures left – four away and one at home (against Coventry and Warwick Riga, on April 12).

And Baker, from Walton, is hopeful his team can finish strongly and claim second spot.

“Most of those games are against team around us in the table,” said the former Tendring Technology College student, who has represented England at cadet, under-19 and under-20 level and hopes to be involved in the under-23 set-up later in 2015.

“I’ve got every confidence we can beat them and that could be enough for second spot.”

Tendring’s men, fourth in the table, go to Wessex on Saturday (3pm).

They are just six points behind both their second-placed hosts and Newcastle Staffs.

The club’s ladies, who were without a game last weekend, head to Portsmouth on Sunday (11.30am).