THE Western Phantoms volleyball team will host open try-outs in Horsham on Saturday and Sunday ahead of the 2014 Victorian Volleyball League competition, which starts in March.
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This year will be the Phantoms’ second season competing in the league’s men’s premier division.
Coach David Berry is setting his sights on a productive pre-season and a top-four finish after a promising debut in Victorian volleyball’s top tier last season.
“We were very competitive in our first year, finishing seventh and winning four games – it’s experience we need to develop,” he said.
“The boys started pre-season three weeks ago with a camp in Ballarat and there’s another camp in Ballarat in about three weeks.
“We need to get the players up to speed quickly – they know what they have to do to get fitter and stronger.”
Berry said the Horsham-based club was the only regional club to field five teams – with premier, reserves and division two men’s teams, and division two and reserves women’s teams.
He said he expected about 40 to 50 players to attend the try-outs.
“It’s a selection trial camp, so we open it up to anyone wanting to participate at the Western Phantoms – anyone in the area is available to come down, try out and show us what they’ve got,” Berry said.
“The players are primarily from Horsham and Sunraysia, but we’ve got players from across western Victoria.”
Berry said the extreme temperatures forecasted for the weekend had forced some changes to training.
Try-outs will be at St Brigid’s College.
Women’s try-outs will start at 10.30am and men’s at 12.30pm.
There will also be sessions Saturday night and Sunday.
The club’s first major tournament is in Warrnambool in March, ahead of the first round of the VVL season.
Berry said people could call him on 0487 824 599 for more information.
