Sport
27 August, 2024
Bronze for Horsham's Snowden in State League One men's volleyball
Phantoms defeated the Western Region Wolves in straight sets.
After four consecutive weeks on the road where they played four cutthroat finals, Volleyball Horsham's Tyler Snowden, playing for Phantoms in State League one men's division, has returned with a well-earned bronze medal.
Snowden's team finished the regular season with a 9-5 win-loss record to qualify in fourth position on the ladder, with the competition, featuring 23 teams, split into two pools.
A four-set quarter-final win over Volley Friends United set up a semi-final showdown with Latrobe Uni, in which they won in five tight sets.
That win secured a spot in the preliminary finals, where they played an epic five-setter against Derrimut Knights, only to be denied by the eventual gold medal-winning team, resulting in a bronze medal showdown against Western Region Wolves.
In the bronze final, Snowden's team were too strong and won in straight sets - 25-18, 25-19, 25-23.
The bronze win was one for perseverance as the team played without their first and second-choice liberos Tim Carter and Henry Murnane - both boys unable to play due to season-ending injuries.
Volleyball Horsham's Tim Carter says Snowden has worked hard on his game over the course of the year, diversifying from his traditional middle blocking role and being able to fulfil whatever role required of him with confidence.
"Snowy [Snowden] has been first to training and last to leave all season and you can see the improvement in his game in that time," Carter said.
"To be able to play in any role asked of you by the coach is a feather in his cap."
The bronze medal will sit nicely beside the one Snowden won at the recent Country Champs, his first at the level, and will only serve to inspire the experienced but still developing player.
Superleague starts
The Mahindra Australian Volleyball Superleague commences this Sunday for the Melbourne Vipers, with plenty of local interest in the made-for-television product.
Josh Cowan will coach the Vipers men, and he will be supported by Matthew Berry.
On his roster will be the Phantoms duo, Paul Sanderson and Scott Johnson.
The women's team will have Phantoms pair Brooke Symes and Hillary Hannagan making their Superleague debuts.
Vipers will make the trek north to play the Queensland Pirates, and the game will be televised on SBS On Demand from 1 pm on Sunday, September 1.
The Vipers' first home game will be next Saturday at the State Volleyball Centre in Dandenong against Canberra Heat.
Tickets for this home game are selling fast, so volleyball enthusiasts interested in supporting the Vipers are encouraged to get in quick.