SEVERN Stars head coach Jo Trip says she is "delighted" with how her new team are progressing as the new 2023 Vitality Netball Super League season approaches.

With only three weeks to go until the opener in Nottingham against Saracens Mavericks, Tripp's side were in pre-season action last weekend against Super League rivals Loughborough Lightning.

It was an entertaining affair in front of a packed out Worcester University Arena, that the visitors eventually came out on top of by 63-57. The event was also used as the official launch for the new season, where the team were presented with their new kit.

"Our pre-season warm-up against Loughborough Lightning was another great learning opportunity for the team," said Trip.

"With only three weeks to go till the season opener in Nottingham on Saturday 11th February, I am delighted with how the team has progressed over the past few months and are continuing to develop their connections on court and build in confidence as a group.

"We played a strong game throughout the court, hitting our targets in a number of quarters both on defence and attack. As always, more consistency is required both individually and as a group but that will come with more time on court together.

"But after months of hard training it was great to be back on court in our official new kit in front of our fans as we build up to the 2023 season.

"Our pre-season launch day was an opportunity for us to mark the return of a couple of our players, but also, to officially welcome many exciting new signings to the senior team."

There have been plenty of changes since the end of the 2022 campaign, which saw Stars finish bottom of the league with just three wins in their 20 games.

One of those changes was Trip herself, who comes in as the new head coach. The former Saracens Mavericks player, who retired at the end of the 2021 season, will take charge of Stars as they prepare for the new campaign.

Trip takes over from Melissa Bessell, who stepped down from the role of head coach at the end of the disappointing 2022 performance and has returned to New Zealand for family reasons.

"With a very new team and a new coaching and management team, the pre-season games have been essential for our preparation and I have been extremely impressed at the way the team has connected so quickly and pulled together as a unit," she added.

"The training ethic of this group is impressive, and I am excited to continue building over the next three weeks and throughout the season.

"We have two more pre-season games against Celtic Dragons and Spartans Men's which will enable us more court time in combinations and to further refine connections and partnerships."