TWO of Volleyball Horsham’s brightest young guns performed on the big stage in 2014.

Murtoa’s Fergus Schier and Horsham’s Kaylee Schmidt impressed coaches at local and state levels.

Schier became one of only six Horsham volleyball players to be selected for Victoria Blue, and one of only three to achieve the feat since the 1980s.

Victoria Blue is the top junior squad for the state in each age group and plays in the highest division at the Australian Junior Volleyball Championships.

Schier’s selection made him one of the top 10 under-17 male volleyballers in the state.

Schmidt also had an excellent year.

She was picked in the under-17 girls Vic West development team to compete at the national championships.

The team was coached by Volleyball Horsham president David Berry.

Although Vic West did not medal, Schmidt was one of the standout performers of the tournament.

She started the tournament as the team’s second setter, but quickly moved into the number one position.

Her strong play earned her the team MVP award.

‘‘Every time the players go on the court, the goal is to get better than the previous time, and Kaylee epitomised that better than anybody,’’ Berry said.

‘‘From the first point of the first game to the last point of the last game, she kept improving.’’

Schier ended his national championships with a bronze medal.

‘‘It was very different to being in the Vic West team last year, because the way the coaches and players conducted themselves was more professional,’’ Schier said.

‘‘I liked it much better because you could really focus on your game.’’