MVP win for young netballer
NETBALL: For someone who didn’t expect any court time this year, 2020 has ended well for netballer Ava Black.
The 17-year-old Bond University player collected the Queensland Sapphire Series MVP award, the prestigious Katie Walker Medal.
Black’s meteoric rise with the Bull Sharks is just reward for dedication belying her young age. She routinely made the five-hour return journey from her home in Toowoomba to the Gold Coast to train and play.
“It is very exciting for me. I’m only 17, I’d never have even imagined getting named MVP,” Black said.
“It is a huge honour and I’m just so grateful for the opportunity to be even playing in this league.
“I literally came from sitting on the bench, not expecting to get on the court this year and I thought I would be playing predominantly in the Ruby Series.
“(Coach) Sheryl Burns had the confidence to put me on court early in the first game of the season and I was busting to get on and busting to show what I could do, and to have my first hitout with the big girls in the big league.”
Black said she was initially overwhelmed when she got on the court and felt nervous and out of place among the older players.
“I knew if I worked hard, and listened to my coach and the other senior Bull Sharks players around me, I’d be ready to show them what I could do,” she said.
“I’ve been improving ever since.”
Black has spent the last two years driving Two-and-a-half hours with her mum Denise just to train with the Bull
Sharks, before driving two and a half hours home, three times a week.
“The commitment is huge but I’ve never once had a doubt about doing it,” she said.
“Mum and I would have to leave school at 1.30 or 2pm in the afternoon and we would get back at midnight.
“She is diligent with my nutrition and pre-cooks me food that I’ll either heat up before getting into the car, or eat it cold on the way.
“We’d be tired and I’d wake up at 5am the next morning for more training in Toowoomba and school.
“Mum is just as committed as I am. We are doing it for the career and I wouldn’t trade for another club, Bond really look after me. I love it so much.
“The Bull Sharks have given me a wonderful opportunity to play with them, to grow and learn so much in an environment loaded with so many other talented netballers.”
The 185cm mid-courter was further boosted by the news she has received a scholarship to study at Bond University.
“I have been offered a 50 per cent sport leadership scholarship at Bond University so I’ll be living down there and studying sport management,” she said.
“It showed how much Bond respect and value me. I was completely over the moon with scholarship.
“Mum and I were in tears and so happy and thankful.
“I’m at a great university and I couldn’t be more excited for next year and what’s to come.
“I’ll literally be at the university 24/7, training and studying.”
Black hopes to break into the Suncorp Super League and then the Australian Diamonds.