Renske Stoltz joins Loughborough Lightning for Fast5 Championship

By Sky Sports Netball

Image: South Africa's Renske Stoltz is an exciting addition to the Loughborough squad for the Fast5 Championship

Peace Proscovia returns for Loughborough Lightning after their squad was named for September's Fast5 and she is joined by South Africa international Renske Stoltz.

Anticipation is building ahead of the inaugural event and, on Thursday, Lightning became the latest Vitality Superleague team to name their squad for the tournament which will be held at London's O2.

Karen Atkinson will lead the squad for one last time before stepping down as head coach and, having lost in the Superleague Grand Final last year, following a brilliant regular season that featured just one defeat, Lightning will be among the favourites for the title.

The tournament allows teams to pick two overseas players and Proscovia will lead the attack after a superb season last year and she is joined by Stoltz who looks like an exciting addition given her movement and long-range shooting accuracy.

Image: Lightning head coach Karen Atkinson will lead the squad for the last time

England international mid-courters Beth Cobden and Nat Panagarry, currently with the Roses squad for the Quad Series, are included with Panagarry captaining the Lightning side as she did in the VNSL.

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England U21 internationals Vicki Oyesola and Rebekah Airey are also part of the squad while recent Loughborough University graduate Ella Gibbons makes the squad which includes youngsters Rosie Harris and England U19 shooter Chloe Essam.

"I am really excited about this squad and what we can achieve at the O2," said Atkinson.

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Image: Peace Proscovia will lead the Loughborough Lightning attack at Fast5 after a brilliant Superleague season

"Fast 5 is an exciting, unpredictable format of the game and I feel we have real firepower in all 3 areas of the court.

"I hope lots of Loughborough Lightning fans come down to London to cheer us on. It will be a fantastic day out, and from what I know of Fast 5 netball, it will be well worth the journey!"

Lightning Squad: Rebekah Airey, Beth Cobden, Chloe Essam, Ella Gibbons, Harrie Gill, Rosie Harris, Vicki Oyesola, Nat Panagarry, Peace Proscovia.

Tickets for the British Fast5 All-Stars Championship are available now from www.theo2.co.uk and start from just £20 with group tickets available priced from £60 for four adults. VIP Courtside tickets are available for £150 from www.fast5allstars.com.

Catch the action from the Fast5 All-Stars Championship, live Sky Sports, from 4.30pm on Saturday, September 23.

And follow the 2018 Vitality Superleague season with us on Sky Sports and through our website skysports.com/Netball also our app for mobile devices and iPad, or follow our Twitter account @SkyNetball

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