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Muskens proves adoubles Smash

Eefje Muskens maintainedher superb record in the inaugural NBL as the Dutch world No 8 doubles player  won her fifth match of the season , the only athlete appearing in all match-nights to keep a 100 per centrecord intact. Muskens played with both Gabby Adcock and Emily Westwood in thewomen's doubles and, on Monday, it was the former who helped her to remain unbeaten. 

Olga Konon and Kieran Merrilees, the University of Nottingham pair, had droppedonly four games between them in their four previous matches, but lost thechance of joining Muskens when they were both beaten in defeat to Team Derby. HenriHurskainen (4 wins from 4) , the indefatigable Swede, and Nottingham's Adam Hall (3 wins from 3), also finished the regular season unbeaten.

Whatthey said

“We've absolutely lovedthe NBL so far. It's been a really good season and I've really enjoyed it. Wehad a slow start but we're ready to take it on now.”
Loughborough Sport's Jenny Wallwork after 3-0 win with partner Chloe Birch

“We have performed asthe best team in the league and we deserved that top spot.”
Surrey Smashers' Gabby Adcock

Vendy built for the NBL

The reigning under-19champion Sean Vendy made his NBL debut as a late replacement for Toby Penty againstLoughborough Sport. And it was a stand out performance that led MK Badminton to victory in theopening mixed doubles' events, despite being two games down. Dives, cross court attacks and aflamboyant shot selection capped an impressive performance, made all thesweeter with a 3-0 tie break win with Jess Pugh . He will be one to watch for future seasons. 

Pugh said: "We just tried to be basic and keep the simple things goingwell, and then they got under pressure and started to make mistakes. We handledthe pressure well and played well when it was most important."

-  The final league tables
-  Read how the top four battled to the NBL Play-Off Finals

Pressuregame in local rivalry battle

Team Derby's KarinSchnaase 's win against fellow German international Olga Konon was a topsy-turvybattle to the last, with the latter hoping to win her fifth consecutive matchof the season for Nottingham. Schnaase's use of the Power Play guided her to a2-1 lead before Konon levelled to take the event into a decider. Konon thenthought she had won, at 3-2 to the good, but the occasion perhaps got thebetter of her, with the rules stipulating that it is first-to-five or athree-point advantage in the tie-break. The slip allowed Schnaase to win threepoints on the trot and seal a crucial win, denting Konon's unbeaten record.

Rightpreparation at last

Linda Zetchiri , ofLoughborough Sport, may have won the recent Bulgarian national title last week,but she was eager to overcome an unwanted losing streak in the NBL on Mondaynight. “That's right, I had not won and there's no excuse but I feel like I neverplayed at 100 per cent in the NBL before,” she admitted. So she travelled tothe UK straight from lifting her Bulgarian title in order to prepare for hersingles' event and put thing's right. Now, she says, Loughborough Sport can win the “whole thing”.She added: “I hope we can bring our 'A' game to the finals. I'm sure we can doit.”

Wantto see the first ever NBL champions crowned?

Tickets are now on sale for the Championship Finals Day on 7 June 2015. Prices from £7 (child) and £12(adult) 

Finals Day is at K2Crawley in Sussex on 7 June 2015. The semi-finals will be streamed live on theNBL website, while Championship Final will be broadcast live on Sky Sports.