NEW CHALLENGE: Western Phantoms co-captain Matthew Berry and his team-mates will play in the Victorian Volleyball League's premier division for the first time this season. Picture: PAUL CARRACHER
The Western Phantoms will play in the Victorian Volleyball League's premier division for the first time this season.
The Phantoms were admitted to the premier division after the Melbourne Falcons Volleyball Club withdrew from the competition.
Coach David Berry said the team unsuccessfully petitioned Volleyball Victoria to be included in the premier division five years ago and had since waited for an opportunity to join.
He said the announcement was great news for volleyball players and fans in the region.
"People in Horsham are going to see some of the best volleyball talent not only in Victoria, but in Australia playing in their backyard," Berry said.
"We've been competitive against the premier division players for a number of years now.
"We know what we're capable of, and making the premier league was our goal."
The Phantoms will play four games in Horsham this season.
The club will also continue to field teams in the league's reserves and division two competitions.
In a blow for the team, captain Brad Hassell will miss the season after injuring his hip again.
Hassell missed the 2010 season after having a hip surgery.
He is expected to be out for the rest of 2013.
Berry said losing Hassell was a significant setback for the Phantoms.
"He's six-foot-five and he can play any position," he said.
"Players who are as tall as he is don't grow on trees especially in volleyball."
Berry said the majority of the Phantoms' squad from last year would return, along with new addition Brad Mason.
Originally from Mildura, Mason is a former Australian Institute of Sport athlete and played for the Australian junior men's team in 2009.
He will play one season for the Phantoms before travelling to Canada in September to play for Olds College on an athletic scholarship.
Berry said the goal for his team was to make the finals in their first year of premier division competition.
He said the club would strive for success throughout the competition.
"I would be happy if we made the finals this year bearing in mind that the fifth-placed team last year went 9-5 and missed the finals," he said.
"Our girls have moved up into the reserves, so we'll be looking for them to be knocking on the door of the premier league as well.
"From an overall club perspective I think we can do really well this year."