Seven excited Volleyball Horsham members are on the Gold Coast for the 2018 National Junior Volleyball Championships.
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Volleyball Horsham Academy Program members Laelah Robertson, Will Saligari, Cleo and Lloyd Baker, Tuskan McAlpine, Tamikah Dockrill and Kara Johnson have a big week ahead of them as members of Team Victoria as they try and wrest the President’s Cup away from the mighty Queenslanders, who have had a mortgage on the prized trophy for the past five years.
Robertson returns to the Victorian Blue team after missing her opportunity last year due to a finger injury. The talented spiker has taken all before her since returning from the USA in June and forced her way into the first six on the back of a solid block of training.
Robertson will play as an opposite and her team will be out for redemption after being beaten by Queensland in the gold medal match last year.
Saligari also returns to the Victorian West team after missing selection last year. The high leaping youngster has improved his overall game in the past twelve months and will be in the mix for a first six position.
Saligari has enjoyed a breakout season, being a member of the Horsham men’s division dual gold medal country championship team as well as the Phantoms men’s division triple gold medal-winning state league team.
Cleo Baker will compete at her third nationals after two years in the under 15 program and will play as a passer hitter in the Vic West under 17 team.
The hard hitting Baker has continued to improve and will be a key starter for the team which is coming off a bronze medal last year.
Three new members will participate for the first time at the nationals.
Tamikah Dockrill will play for the Victorian White under 19 girls team as a key middle blocker. The athletic spiker has improved in leaps and bounds over the course of this year and deserves her spot in the starting six.
Her team will be pushing for a spot in the bronze medal match and will make life tough for a lot of the other states.
Murtoa College young guns Lloyd Baker and Tuskan McAlpine will both play in the Victorian West under 15 boys team.
Baker has taken his opportunities over the course of the program by playing and training as much as he can. As the tallest player in his team Baker will be a starting six player and will be a key for his team.
McAlpine will play a key role as an opposite and his biggest strength is his blocking which will be crucial in his team’s success.
Kara Johnson will be attending her third nationals as an assistant coach of the Victorian West under 17 girls team. Johnson has a great understanding of the game and the key stats and is universally loved and respected by the team she is a part of.
