Volleyball
25 February, 2025
Horsham Volleyball season commences
The pre-season is out of the way, and the real thing started last night, Monday, February 24 for Volleyball Horsham’s A grade and women’s competitions.
The new look women’s A competition, with the promotion of the two WLC girls’ teams from women’s B and the consolidation of talent across the other teams will see the strengthening of the competition.
The opening game will see the first test when the Thorns take on the Lakers.
The Lakers have been strengthened with the inclusion of Lydia Schneider, Kymberley Murray and Hannah Birch into a team that finished third last season.
Thorns will look to the big-hitting Ilze Van Zyl to win the bulk of their points while Bonnie Grieger will step up into the second pass-hitting role.
The following game will see the reigning premier Phantoms battle with the second WLC team, which has taken over Heidelberg's name.
Phantoms will be missing key setter Kara Johnson but have strengthened their lineup with the inclusion of Larree Smith. The Quick sisters, Casey and Sophie, will be called upon to step up in Johnson’s absence.
Heidelberg will look to Serena Johns and Amelia Van Buuren to work together as pass hitter and setter to keep in touch with the experienced Phantoms team.
The women’s B competition has come together nicely with six very even teams.
The opening game sees the Magnificent Medicos and Von Steiger Sisters going head to head with Rej Smith and Shabnam Ariani as the Medicos prime movers, while the Von Steiger Sisters will look to Meg Armstrong and Lyn Aneban to score the bulk of their points.
The Bombers have Matilda Horvat and Chloe Mackley as their go-to players, and they take on the Stars, who have the improving Ray Barr and Emily Johns as their key players.
The third game sees the newly promoted Power Divas go head-to-head with the Von Steiger Shadows.
The Divas have Eden Pumpa and Drew Armstrong as their key players, while the Shadows will look to Jean Yu and Josie Ponseca as their keys.
The A-grade competition will see the return of some of Volleyball Horsham’s best
players.
Last season’s premiers, the Phantoms, open the night when they take on the new look of the Heidelberg team.
Key Phantom Tyler Puls will carry a massive load along with Noah Werry, while Heidelberg will welcome back Nathan Berry, Shaun Bray and Jake Myerscough.
This game will be decided by the two setters – Werry for Phantoms and Berry for Heidelberg. Whichever one can utilize their skills to their best will come out on top.
The final game sees the Rangers take on Tsunami.
Rangers welcome back Jack Hannan and Tim Carter – both have recovered from injury that limited their appearances in the back half of last year.
Tsunami welcome into their team key middle Clay Heard to complement the work of Tyler Snowden. Tsunami will look to the youngsters in Joel Brilliant, who will be making his A-grade debut, and Kai Dodson and Jiedan Young to be consistent contributors.