State teams in Horsham
Vic West state team coaches left Horsham with more questions than answers after a successful training camp at the weekend.
Three Vic West state teams – under-17 boys and girls and under-15 boys – used the weekend to fine-tune their preparations for the Australian Junior Volleyball Championships on the Gold Coast at the end of September.
Part of the camp included a mini tournament on Sunday against Volleyball Horsham teams.
Vic West under-17 boys team Sunraysia coach Chris Hermans was full of positives after the tournament.
“This was exactly what my boys needed and what I needed as coach,” he said.
“The standard of play was high and gave me plenty of ideas going forward.
“My team was afforded good match play by the Horsham teams, and while we were soundly beaten in two of the three games, I could see a little bit of improvement as each match was played.”
Vic West under-17 girls assistant coach, Volleyball Horsham’s Kara Johnson, was also pleased with what her team achieved from the weekend.
“Our girls are learning to play a new style of volleyball and the three matches they had enabled them to put into practice, under match conditions, exactly how we want them to play,” she said.
“We don’t get as much really good match play during our trainings, so the mini tournament was extremely valuable for our girls.”
Vic West under-15 boys coach Gavin Penny from Riddell’s Creek praised the work of the Horsham association.
“Not only did my boys receive great match play, the whole weekend was successful because Volleyball Horsham was a tremendous host,” he said.
“Jo Baker and her catering crew were fantastic and went above and beyond what we were expecting.
“It was a real eye opener for many of our parents who experienced volleyball in Horsham for the first time.”
The Vic West teams will gather in Bendigo next weekend for their final training camp, before participating in a Bendigo junior tournament.
National junior titles will be on the Gold Coast from September 29 until October 6.