Players ready for round one

There will be some very nervous and excited Volleyball Horsham members this week as they prepare for round one of Victorian Volleyball League.

Among three teenagers making their premier women’s debut for Phantoms against Victoria University on Saturday will be Volleyball Horsham academy athlete Tamikah Dockrill.

Dockrill has improved significantly in the past six months and did enough at a recent Warrnambool tournament to retain her spot as number-two middle blocker.

She is beginning to build a good rapport with setter Kara Johnson and the pair are starting to form a strong combination.

Playing in the same A Grade team has helped build this understanding between setter and middle attacker.

Another academy member making Phantoms debut is Lloyd Baker.

Baker is another example of a player who has developed significantly during the past six months. He will line up in the division two Phantoms Purple team as a starting middle blocker.

Apart from improving, Baker has grown, which helps when you play a middle-blocking role. a

He is understanding the game better and he’ll certainly have fun with last season’s grand final most-valuable player Tom Hermans setting to him.

Returning after a year off will be Eadie Garth-lindsay.

She will come back in through the division-three women’s team to ease her back into the swing of things.

The side is looking forward to having Eadie back in the fold as she brings good energy and experience to a young team.

Apart from the debutants, Volleyball Horsham members Shaun Bray, Will Saligari, Cleo Baker, Laelah Robertson, Delaney Wills, Nathan Berry, Jack Hannan, Kara Johnson and Tim Popple will all be in action on Saturday.

With the women’s division-two team having a bye, the likes of Chloe Brown, Hannah Whyte and Emily Hannah will have to wait for a Horsham round on April 13 and 14 to make their season debut.

With 15 players and former players in Matthew Berry, Nick Adamson, Cam Robinson, Kimberley Crabtree and Rebecca Allan participating in State League this season, it brings the number of Volleyball Horsham members involved to 20, which vindicates the development, time and effort of all coaches, families and parents.