Volleyball
13 August, 2024
Phantoms start season with a bang
Last season’s premier women’s team Phantoms has set the pace with two strong performances to start the new volleyball season.
Sporting a new look team, Phantoms with new players Casey Quick and Mia Geue recorded a comprehensive win over Heidelberg, blowing their opposition off the court in the first two sets.
Heidelberg reset their lineup in the third and pushed Phantoms all the way only to go down 23-25, but they did salvage something from the wreckage taking the fourth set and gaining a premiership point, which could prove decisive come season’s end.
Ballbusters made short work of an undermanned Lakers outfit, winning four sets with Kymberley Murray back to her powerful best ably supported by Alysha Cozens.
The under-19 girls team preparing for the upcoming junior country champs scored an encouraging win over Tsunami, with Clare Whyte setting well and Paige Hemley a presence on the net.
Von Steiger Sisters jumped into the four in the Women’s B competition with a four set win over Stars. May Rosello and Meg Armstrong were consistent for the Sisters, while Emily Johns tried hard for her Stars team.
Ladybugs took bragging rights against fellow Lutheran school team Thorns, in a close three setter with Bonnie Grieger and Victoria Brown to the fore while Matilda Horvat was good for Thorns.
STRONG ENTRIES FOR JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIPS
The early bird entries have closed for the Junior Country Championships to be held in Horsham on the long weekend in September, and early indications show good representation from right across the state.
Teams will be representing South Gippsland, Latrobe Valley, Warrnambool, Sunraysia, Geelong and Mildura Academy, with Volleyball Horsham represented in all six divisions, in a great showing of support from regional associations.
Entries are still being taken until the end of the month, with organisers expecting further interest from Bendigo, Macedon Ranges, Albury Wodonga and possibly Shepparton.
The pilot event, being held for the first time as a stand alone junior championships, will showcase junior volleyball talent from regional Victoria in the under 19, 17 and 15 age groups.
STATE LEAGUE DREAM STILL ALIVE
Tyler Snowden’s state league premiership quest with his Phantoms team is still alive following a massive five set quarter final win over Latrobe Uni.
Things weren’t looking all that good after dropping the first two sets 23-25, 24-26 but some strategic changes settled the team down and they bounced back to win 25-19, 25-23 and force the game into a deciding fifth set.
The team held their nerve and came out on top winning 15-12 and setting up a semi final clash with either Derrimut Knights or KVA Future Stars on Saturday, with a win advancing the team to the grand final the following week.