Volleyball
5 August, 2024
Close games to open season
The new season of volleyball opened with two close games in Volleyball Horsham’s A-grade competition.
The tone was set in the game between Phantoms and Heidelberg when the first set took 26 minutes with Phantoms opening their account against Heidelberg in a nailbiter 29-27.
Noah Werry was ever consistent with his setting, combining well with the high leaping Oscar Jackman while Sam Peachey did a great job with his Heidelberg team keeping them in what proved to be a close contest.
The second game started well for Hellenic Nuggets when they won the first set against
Tsunami 25-18.
But the young Tsunami team, who are the under 19 boys representing Volleyball Horsham in the upcoming country championships, dug deep and showed some great resolve to win the second set 30-28 and tie the game up at one set a piece.
Kara Johnson was back to her brilliant setting best for Hellenic Nuggets ably supported by the returning games record holder Nathan Berry.
Logan Young was in everything for Tsunami while Jasper Ponseca was good in his libero role.
The splitting of the women’s competition proved to be a wise move with the three women’s A grade games all close, while some teams in women’s B grade got a win on the board for the first time.
Phantoms had to work hard for their win accounting for the under 19 girls in the first game, while Ballbusters welcomed back star veteran Alysha Cozens with a fist up win over Tsunami and Lakers scored a points win over Heidelberg.
The HTLC teams Thorns and Ladybugs have set the bar in women’s B grade with strong wins while new team Glam Slammers enjoyed their first win of the season accounting for Stars in four sets.
MIXED FINALS RESULTS FOR PHANTOMS
Phantoms State League One men featuring Volleyball Horsham’s Tyler Snowden, were the only team to enjoy quarter final success in the first week of Victorian Volleyball League finals and will continue their quest for a grand final spot this week.
The day started with the Phantoms Premier Two men going down to Dandenong in straight sets to exit the finals, while the Premier One men fought all the way but couldn’t get over a hot Monash team, going down in an agonizingly close five setter.
The scene was set early on when the first set went for 35 minutes with Monash prevailing 32-30, then another nailbiter in the second with Monash winning 25-23.
Phantoms fought back hard in the third winning 29-27, and then came from 21-22 down in the fourth to win 25-22 and send the game into a deciding set.
But two hours of fighting and counter punching took its toll in the fifth with Monash running out victors 15-9, to end Phantoms season on a very disappointing note.
Then the Premier One women looked on track to cause the upset of the season when they levelled their quarter final with top team Dandenong at one all only to drop away in the third and fourth in a brave effort.