Season starts with a bang

Two highly competitive games were the highlight of round one of Volleyball Horsham’s Winter Season A Grade competition.

Heidelberg and a new-look Murtoa Lizards side kicked off opening night with a close encounter.

Heidelberg produced a new line up with Tyler Snowden and Tamikah Dockrill key middles, power couple Shaun Bray and Delaney Wills pass hitters, Timmy Carter the livewire libero and veteran Tim Popple at opposite.

Murtoa Lizards introduced Sam Leith and Blake Turner for their first A Grade games while Will Saligari and Lloyd Baker occupied the middle attacking positions, Hannah Whyte did the setting, Laelah Robertson the pass hitting and Cleo Baker put on the contrasting shirt in her role as libero.

Both teams displayed great defence, with players determined to keep the ball off the floor. The result came down to the team that could find the winner at the right time and it was Heidelberg prevailing in four sets, 25-23, 27-25, 23-25, 25-23.

Phantoms and St Brigid College Raptors took to the court, with the Raptors

welcoming Nathan Sparke for his first A Grade game, while Phantoms promoted Nalaka Vitharana and Alex Baker.

Raptors jumped out to an early lead on the back of clever setting from John Kearns and good hitting from Will Brennan, and it looked like the St Brigid’s youngsters would cause an upset. But Nathan Berry and Vitharana began to find their attackers as the game wore on, with Alex Baker and Tyler Puls instrumental in finding holes in the Raptors defence to get the winners at the crucial stage of each set.

In the end Phantoms won in four sets, 22-25, 25-18, 25-18, 25-19.

In a new-look B Grade – with 10 teams and four new teams to the competition – it was perennial favourites Waterhammers and Phantom Masters enjoying first-up wins. The big result on the night was a win by Von Steiger Savages. Benefitting from experienced duo Darcy Wills and Aaron Evans, the Savages made short work of stablemates Von Steiger Bloods, winning 4-0.

There is still opportunity for boys and girls interested in playing to get on board in the Monday night junior competition. Contact info@volleyballhorsham.com.au for details.