Mia Ritchie and Tash Pavelin commit to Bath Netball ahead of 2018 season

Mia Ritchie and Tash Pavelin have become the latest players to commit to Team Bath Netball for the 2018 Vitality Superleague season.

It will be a ninth successive Superleague campaign for Ritchie, a key leader whose dynamic mid-court performances have made her a huge favourite of the Blue and Gold supporters.

By contrast, it will be a first taste of Superleague for University of Bath Natural Sciences student Pavelin, who makes the step up to the highest level of domestic netball after captaining the U21 NPL team last season.

"I am delighted to have signed for this franchise again and to continue onto my ninth season in the Blue and Gold," said Ritchie.

"This place has become my second home and there was never any doubt that I wanted to still be a part of this exciting journey and see where this season takes us."

"This season we have really invested in what we think is the best squad to take the team forward and I truly believe we have the quality to go all the way."

Pavelin added: "I'm very excited to have been given the opportunity to be a part of the Superleague squad for this season and I can't wait to work with the rest of the squad."

Both Ritchie and Pavelin were part of the Sitec-sponsored Team Bath squad that went mighty close to winning the inaugural British Fast5 All-Stars Championships at The O2 Arena in London on Saturday.

Bath were ahead for almost all of a thrilling 12-minute match against Loughborough Lightning, with a three-pointer from Kadeen Corbin putting them 33-30 up in the last minute, only for Renske Stolz to land a decisive five-pointer for Lightning 15 seconds from time.

Seven players have now been confirmed in the Superleague squad for 2018, with Ritchie and Pavelin joining Eboni Beckford-Chambers, Layla Guscoth, Lewis, Imogen Allison and returning international shooter Corbin in committing to the Blue and Gold.

"It is great to have Mia and Tash on board for the 2018 season," Thirlby added. "They are at different stages of their career but both will contribute massively in the year ahead.

"It's hard to believe it is going to be Mia's ninth season with us, I remember her arriving here as a student. She is an amazing role model and for her to show that kind of loyalty to the Blue and Gold is fantastic, we are proud that she continues to see us as a place to improve and achieve.

"Tash thoroughly deserves her place in the squad. Both [coach] Anna Stembridge and I were incredibly impressed with her attitude and performances last year, her first at the University of Bath, and being around the likes of Eboni and Layla will accelerate that development."

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