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Phantoms complete perfect State League season

Posted on September 23, 2011

CHAMPIONS! MIXX FM Western Phantoms players Adrian Fox and Brad Hassell with their State Volleyball League Division Two championship medals.

THE MIXX FM Western Phantoms volleyball team has capped off its debut season in the State Volleyball League in style, taking out the competition’s Division Two championship.

A team that has featured numerous Sunraysia-based players – including co-captain Brad Hassell – throughout the season, the Phantoms proved too strong for Monash University, eventually winning last Saturday night’s final three sets to none.

Sunraysia representatives in the winning team included Brad and Adrian Fox, with the win marking the first time either competitor has been involved in a State League championship.

“It was a great feeling,” Brad said. “Fair to say we celebrated pretty hard Saturday night.

“A number of the team’s family members made the trip down, so we had a pretty big crowd.

“It was a great night, and a great way to finish off the season.”

It’s a win that has capped off a fantastic debut season for the Phantoms, who finished undefeated, dropping only four sets for the year.

Brad said that while the team had been confident of doing well at the start of the year, they had never anticipated being so dominant.

“Our main goal for this season was to prove that we had what it took to play Division One State League volleyball,” he said.

“To have this sort of season, where we didn’t lose a game and only lost a handful of sets, was better than we expected.

“Hopefully this is the push we need to take that next step, and force our way into Division One.”

Brad said the plan for the 2012 State Volleyball season was to see the Western Phantoms enter three new teams, incorporating men’s and women’s teams in both Divisions One and Two of the competition.

“We’ve proved that we have the talent to take it up to the best in the competition, and hopefully we can make that move happen for next season.”

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