Volleyballers put up hands for Phantoms
Volleyball Horsham members will come to the fore at the weekend when an influx of new faces attend Western Phantoms’ first selection camp at Bendigo.
Western Phantoms give western Victorian volleyballers the opportunity to participate in the Victorian Volleyball League without the need to travel every week to Melbourne.
They have five teams – honors and division one and two men’s teams as well as division one and two women’s teams.
With the excitement of playing five home games in Bendigo in 2017 and one in Mildura, the club is expecting more players to become part of the club.
Heading the list will be last year’s state players Eadie Garth-lindsay, Laelah Robertson and the returning Elly Blakeley and Chloe Brown.
All four are looking to take their volleyball to the next level.
In Blakeley and Brown’s case they are returning after taking last season off due to year-12 studies. They are keen to play again.
In the men’s division young tyro Will Brennan is also looking to take the next step and try his luck with the Phantoms. Brennan has improved strongly over the course of 2016 and is keen to try his luck in the state league, as he continues along the pathway program that will see him trial for the state team again in May.
Returning will be foundation players Nathan Berry and Tim Popple and Murtoa products Jordan Weidemann, Jayden Mcqueen, Nathan Murphy and Aaron Evans.
There is word that a couple of former foundation members could be returning for season 2017, which will give the club much-needed top-end talent.
Adding to the list will be original Volleyball Horsham members Cam Robinson, Nick Adamson, Siobhan Robinson, Maddie Buckley, Molly Hobbs and Jack Hannan.
The Western Phantoms will have another camp in Ballarat at the end of the month before fine-tuning their teams at the annual March long weekend tournament in Warrnambool.
The state league season starts on March 25 with developments including feature matches, rivalry rounds, a pink round and more games being played outside the State Volleyball Centre, which will cater for the expected influx of teams wanting to play in the competition.
If there are any other Volleyball Horsham members keen to try their luck they should call me on 5382 4599 before the weekend.