Today	Sat
Clear 22°/ 9°	Partly Cloudy 20°/ 7°

← Soccer gala delight for local fans Brothers join Demi as world qualifiers →

Volleyballers take Horsham by storm

Posted on December 2, 2011

THE Sunraysia Academy of Sport’s volleyball squad has returned triumphant from the recent Comfort Inn May Park Horsham Volleyball tournament, with four local teams achieving fantastic results at the competition.

CHAMPIONS: Sunraysia’s successful junior girls team celebrates their Horsham victory,

Encompassing a women’s reserve team, a junior girls team and two junior boys teams, the two-day tournament saw the best in country Victoria compete.

Overall the tournament proved a successful hit-out for the region’s young talent, with the Sunraysia Academy of Sport bringing home two trophies across the junior boys and girls divisions.

Coached by Steve Purcell and captained by former Victorian representative, Kirsty Telfer, the women’s reserve team included a host of talent, with former Victorian representatives Karly Bartlett, Amy Mann, Alyce Mason and Ashlee Spence adding a wealth of experience to the line-up.

The girls proved competitive throughout the event, winning three out of five games, before missing out on the final by just one point.

Sunraysia’s junior girls also enjoyed a successful outing at the event, progressing through the tournament’s round-robin section undefeated, before going on to win its semi-final, and then defeat the St Brigids team (from Horsham) in the Grand Final.

Taking the game three sets to love, the girls dominated the final match of the tournament, with the scoreline proving one-sided (25-13, 25-11 and 25-15).

Abigail Alabaster captained the team, and was also rewarded for her consistent play throughout the tournament by being named the Most Valuable Player.

Breanna Doorne with her height finished off many attacking plays and was also well supported by Felicity Anderson.

Overall the team worked well together, doing their coach, Allan Hassell, proud.
Sunraysia Volleyball also entered a junior girls team, made up of players aged 11 and 12.
Both an experienced and developmental junior boys team was also entered, coached by Paul Freckleton.

The development team – while failing to win a game – provided tough competition to all challenges, with captain Tain Byrne leading well from the front.

The senior boys team was captained by Adrian Fox, whose leadership and experience helped the side get over the line in the Grand Final.

The boys had a far more difficult trip to the finals compared to their female counterparts, managing to pull out all the stops when it mattered.

The team won its Grand Final against Horsham College three sets to love – although it was a far less dominant display, with the final scoreline reading 25-22, 25-16 and 25-23.

Dustin Freckleton – who is coming of age as a setter – played one of his best tournaments to date, with the ‘rookies’ in the squad – Forrest Patterson and John Hua – also performing well.

Tweet This Post Post to Facebook