Phantoms win recognition

Volleyball Horsham members won acknowledgment for their state league efforts at a Phantoms presentation night.

More than 120 players, coaches, families and friends attended the end-of-season function which celebrated the biggest year of Phantoms Volleyball Club since its inception in 2011.

Heading the list of acknowledgements was men’s premier setter Matthew Berry, who finished joint runner-up most valuable player and received a coach’s award.

Coach Todd Broadbent was full

of praise for his number-one setter, because ‘he brought energy to the team each game, and always gave 100 percent when he took the court’.

Next up was reserves award, with Jack Hannan finishing runner-up.

Coach Paul Freckleton said Hannan deserved his award because he had improved significantly in his skills and attitude in 2019.

He said Hannan was a pleasure to coach as no matter what role he was asked to play, he took on the challenge for the betterment of the team.

In women’s reserves, Cleo Baker received a coach’s award.

Coach Paul Byrne said Baker was a delight to coach and gave her all whenever she took to the court.

The final member to win recognition was veteran spiker Tim Popple, who received the best-infinals award.

Popple’s men’s division-two team lost a marathon five-set elimination final and Popple gave his all, impressing bench coach Andrew Zrna.

Game milestones were also recognised on the night, with Popple and Nick Adamson chalking up 100 games for the club, while 50-game certificates went to Rebecca Allan, Delaney Wills and Kimberley Crabtree – foundation members of the girls program. The next day, Bendigo Volleyball Association hosted its annual junior tournament with Volleyball Horsham members Tamikah Dockrill and Laelah Robertson taking gold with their Victoria White team in the open girls division final.

The White team defeated the Victoria Blue under-17 team 15-13 in the deciding set, with Dockrill hitting the winning spike, much to her delight.

It was a perfect warm up for all state teams that participated, with national junior titles less than two weeks away.