VOLLEYBALLERS RAISING BAR

AN AUDACIOUS overhaul of a Townsville volleyball club could open the floodgates on the development of future stars.

Already a breeding ground for players with potential, Monsoons Volleyball Club’s decision to raise the bar has led to a spike in improvements across the board.

Zeroing in on junior players, vice-president Daineile Campbell said the sky was the limit.

“Our main goal is to really try and get a junior program going and then we can potentially push for high-quality state players,” Campbell said.

“We have people that have been there for a very long time and know their stuff so they put their hand up to help with coaching and now we have structured training sessions and set teams.”

Official trials were held for the first time to attract serious players. “It was amazing, it was our first time ever doing it and we had on overwhelming response,” Campbell said.

“It was crazy the amount of people we had, with 30 to 40 men alone.”

Jacob Stevens has been at the club since discovering the sport as a North Queensland representative in 2015 and said their new focus had paid off.

“It makes it hard if you don’t really know how everyone plays and then don’t jell as well,” Stevens said.

“Now it’s not just about whoever can go (to tournaments) and who is keen anymore, now it breeds that competitiveness.

“It’s also pushed a lot of the social guys to push themselves and see how they stack up to those wanting to play at a higher level.”

The Monsoons play out of Townsville’s RSL Stadium in Aitkenvale.