Phantoms sides aiming for finals

Seven of the nine Phantoms Volleyball Club teams participating in the Victorian Volleyball League are either finals bound or in the hunt for a finals spot with one round remaining.

A Premier Men’s team, with Matthew Berry and Nick Adamson, is sitting sixth and must beat fifth-placed Eastside Hawks in both its games on Saturday.

It will also hope third-placed Monash beats fourth-placed Renegades in both their matches to have any hope of playing finals.

“It’s been a familiar tale for our team this year, so close yet so far,” Matthew Berry said.

“We’ve been in winning positions against most teams, but haven’t been quite able to deliver that killer blow.”

Reserves Men, with Nathan Berry, Jack Hannan and Cam Robinson, are sitting third with nine wins and three losses and have games against sixth-placed Eastside Hawks and second-placed Mornington.

The team has been playing consistently throughout the season and will be confident of victory against the two sides.

Reserves Women with Tamikah Dockrill, Delaney Wills, Laelah Robertson and Cleo Baker, are six wins and six losses for the season and face two winnable games against Eastside Hawks and Mornington, which are 11th and ninth on the ladder respectively.

The men’s division two Phantoms Black side, with Tim Popple in charge and Will Saligari on the improve, is sitting on top of the ladder with 10 wins and two losses and is coming together nicely as a team.

Stablemate Phantoms Purple with Lloyd Baker and Shaun Bray is just outside the eight with six wins and six losses and face two teams around them on the ladder. It will need two big wins to push for a finals spot.

A division two women’s team with Emily Hannan, Hannah Whyte, Kimberley Crabtree, Choe Brown, Eadie Garth-lindsay and Rebecca Allan is in the top six and has two winnable games against teams sitting 14th and 16th on the ladder, so should consolidate finals hopes.

Division three women with Jade Saligari is sitting third on the ladder and have two games, one against 10th-placed Eastside Hawks and the other against top of the table Renegades, so coach Wayne Symons will be happy to split his results.

Only the Premier Women and division three men are out of contention for finals, but will be playing for pride on Saturday.

Volleyball Horsham’s domestic competition is calling for entries for the upcoming winter season, which starts July 29 for juniors, women and C grade and July 31 for A and B grades.

Individuals or teams wishing to enter into any of the competitions should message info@ volleyballhorsham.com.au.