Volleyballers win way to next stage

Strong wins at Black Ranges school level competition will give Murtoa and Horsham St Brigid’s college intermediate girls and boys volleyball teams great confidence going into the next round in a fortnight’s time.

Both teams made it a hat-trick of Black Ranges titles, with strong wins against other Wimmera schools to qualify for the Greater Western Zone regional play-offs at Warrnambool on May 4.

Murtoa College girls had good wins over St Brigid’s B and Kaniva to qualify for semi-finals on top. In their semi they faced off against Horsham Holy Trinity Lutheran College and had to dig deep in a highly entertaining game to come out on top.

Holy Trinity certainly took it right up to the Murtoa girls, with some great defensive efforts and good blocking. It was the experience of the likes of Cleo Baker and Laelah Robertson that kept Murtoa ahead on the scoreboard.

In the other pool, St Brigid’s A team had two good wins over Horsham College and Holy Trinity Lutheran to head its pool. In its semi-final it squared off against Kaniva and recorded a comfortable straight-sets win.

Kaniva should be applauded for its efforts in making the semi finals under Ollie Dalgleish’s coaching, with her girls showing some nice skills. The final started with two Kaleisha Mckerron ‘roof blocks’ on Murtoa’s gun hitter Baker and the St Brigid’s girls looked confident.

Robertson then won the ball back and proceeded to serve her team ahead in the contest, which the St Brigid’s girls couldn’t quite peg back.

In the end the Murtoa girls wore down the St Brigid’s girls with constant service and hitting pressure to record a good win.

The boys division saw Horsham College take it right up to the St Brigid’s team, leading for the majority of the first set.

St Brigid’s clawed its way back to level the set at 23-23, then a hitting error gave Horsham College set point.

The St Brigid’s boys took a time-out and then a Horsham College service error gave St Brigid’s the sniff it needed and it served strongly to take the set 26-24. The team then powered through the second set to win convincingly.

St Brigid’s then squared off against Holy Trinity and won comfortably to progress to the next round.

It was a great day of volleyball with good skills shown by players from all schools. All teams that progressed should do well in the next round, with winners to go through to the state finals.