St Brigid’s
ST BRIGID’S under-15 boys volleyball team continued its winning form into Tuesday’s second day of the Australian Schools Volleyball Cup.
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The side won both its matches against Eltham High School and Maffra Secondary College 3-0.
Coach David Berry said the side was continuing to improve with each game.
“Harry Combe served 27 times in the game against Maffra and hit 10 aces,” he said.
“He would have served 100 times in the first four games and has not missed one yet.
“Wily Ioelu hit his first A Quick. It was a set play we’ve been working on and it was executed perfectly.
“Sam Cameron also did not miss a serve yesterday.”
The results mean the team has not dropped a set through its first four matches and is well-placed to progress through to the top-four and semi-finals on Thursday evening.
Before then, the side will come up against St Peter’s Lutheran College and Mazenod College on Wednesday, before facing off against Reynella East College on Thursday morning.
“Today will set us up for the rest of the week,” Berry said.
“Those two teams are second and third.
“We got home pretty late on Tuesday night but I’ve been trying to keep them fresh with a pool recovery each morning.”
Horsham College
FOR the two Horsham College teams, the cup is about something different than winning.
College volleyball director Paul Denson has repeatedly said he saw the experience as part of a development program for the players.
“Apart from myself, all are ‘first timers’ so there is a great team atmosphere and tremendous learning curve taking place,” he said.
“The transition from match one to match two has validated this initiative.
“From innocent, shy, lost players in match one, to a competitive, excited, united unit in match two, illustrates the early success of the program.”
Denson said it was about developing ‘social capital’.
“It’s personal values and scores,” he said.
“Sportsmanship, co-operation, accountability, goal setting, mentoring … the list goes on.”
Despite on court results not going either side’s way on the first two days, the mentality and approach of Denson has shown through.
It was no more evident than in the match between the girls’ team and Tin Can Bay State School at the end of Tuesday.
Girls team manager Tami Lane said the Tin Can Bay school had only 80 students and had sent a small team of girls to compete at the event.
“We came up against them as a massive talented power-house team,” she said.
“We were going down in what can only be described as an epic annihilation.
“The second set was about to start and we looked up to see and hear a chant, ‘let’s go Horsham, let’s go’, coming from the other end of the court.
“The team did not punish us, but they played strongly and taught our girls good sportsmanship really does exist.”
Opposing coaching staff even crossed over to Horsham’s side of the court to offer tips and advice during the match.
“At the end of the match, there was no shaking of hands at the net,” Lane said.
“Tin Can Bay bounced under the net to bring together a group huddle with cheers and chants for Horsham.
“I’m tearing up again just talking about it.”
This followed on from the team already forming a bond on day one.
“With a printing error on day one, we found ourselves at the wrong location for a duty,” Lane said.
“This left a game waiting and Tin Can Bay, who had just finished duty themselves, jumped straight in to fill our spot without hesitation.
“Twenty minutes late and very flustered we changed over. This started what has now become a team friendship.”
Lane said the players had shown maturity and wisdom beyond their years.
“Tuesday saw the Horsham College girls start the day up against Victor Harbour High, taking out the first set with consistent serving from Emily Russell,” she said.
“Alisha Matheson’s constant support to year 7 players Pascall Patterson and Paige Lane helped the younger girls settle into the game very well.
“Pascall’s jump serving is brilliant for such a young player.
“Sharia Eltze and her strength at the net has produced some amazing blocks on serve to sneak in a few easy points.”
In the environment of 5000 students competing at a high level, Lane said there was some serious competition between sides.
“This is quite foreign to almost all of our young players,” Lane said.
“To have a team of massively talented players walk in wearing professional uniforms with huge team support staff can be very confronting.
“To their credit, every one of the Horsham College girls has taken it in their stride without intimidation.”