Sport
24 September, 2024
Junior country championships await for six Volleyball Horsham teams
Horsham will host the event, starting on Thursday, September 26.
The preparations are over, and the time has come for Volleyball Horsham's junior country championship teams to put their best foot forward as they ready themselves for this weekend's event.
For all six teams, they have received eight weeks of playing and training, with a Bendigo junior tournament in between, and hopefully, this will stand them in good stead for all players to perform at their best.
The new look event for junior country volleyballers has come about to give these young athletes the opportunity to play in a stand-alone championship event, something they haven't had in recent years, having to share the spotlight with their senior teams.
The championships, to be played at the Horsham Basketball Stadium, will kick off on Thursday, September 26, with the Volleyball Horsham under-19 boys taking on Warrnambool at 6.30pm, followed at 7.45pm by the Volleyball Horsham under 19 girls doing battle with Mildura Academy.
Both teams have been gaining valuable match play in A grade for the boys and women's A for the girls, giving coaches the opportunity to try different combinations and see players in different positions.
The boys will face strong opposition in Warrnambool, with the southern team well-represented by players who have had state league experience with Phantoms this year.
Joey A'Hearn, Will Fowler and Andrei Khaidurov are talented athletes who will make life tough for the Horsham boys.
To round out this division, there will be strong teams representing Geelong, South Gippsland and Mildura Academy.
The Horsham girls will face a tough task against Mildura Academy, which will be well prepared by Phantoms premier two coach Brooke Symes.
For the Horsham girls, much will rest on the shoulders of Paige Hemley and Ella Van Duren as both girls also played state league this year, and it is this experience they will call on to get the wins on the board.
In the under-17 girls' division, a young Volleyball Horsham team will face off against teams from Geelong, South Gippsland and Mildura Academy.
The association's under-15 team, led by Eden Pumpa and Stella Angue, has been entered so as not to miss out and to gain valuable experience.
The under-17 girls will look to Ilze Van Zyl to carry her stellar netball form onto the volleyball court with support from Serena Johns, Molly Gawith and Amelia Van Buuren.
The under-17 boy's division will see Sunraysia do battle against two Horsham teams, with Joel Brilliant and Malakai Van Buuren as key players.
Meanwhile, Kayne Sartori-Billman, Luke Brilliant, and Bentley Pendlebury will be key players in the under-15 team.
Matches get underway at 8.30 each morning, with an opening ceremony on Friday around 1.30pm.
Medal matches will be played on Sunday, and the closing ceremony will be set down at around 12.30pm.
There is no charge for spectators to attend, and a canteen will be in operation throughout the event.
Vipers to enjoy the bye
The Melbourne Vipers will enjoy a well-earned rest this weekend after four rounds of the Mahindra Australian Volleyball Superleague.
The men's team went down in five sets to Adelaide Storm last weekend after enjoying a confidence-boosting win against Perth Steel at home the week before.
With one round remaining, the men are sitting third on the ladder and, barring some unforeseen circumstances, should end NSW Phoenix's season next week and head into the finals weekend in Adelaide on Saturday, October 12, ready to make an impression.
The women also suffered a five-set loss to Storm in the last round and are sitting in third place on the ladder.
Like the men, they should end NSW Phoenix's season next week and head to Adelaide confident for the finals.
Volleyball Horsham members have been given the opportunity to support the Vipers against Phoenix on Saturday, October 5, with tickets available in the VIP area, so a bus has been booked to take members to MSAC for the final round.
Anyone interested in attending is encouraged to register their expression of interest by contacting the association at info@volleyballhorsham.com.au by Monday, October 30.