Opportunity awaits

With the Hellenic Nuggets having the bye tonight, there is a good chance for the rest of the competition to make up valuable ground on ladder leaders in Volleyball Horsham’s summer season A Grade competition.

The winless Tsunami will fancy its chances against Heidelberg, which finally broke through for its first win last week in a close contest against Phantoms.

Tsunami was looking good when it took the first set against the Hellenic Nuggets last week.

Alex Baker was hitting plenty of winners, ably supported by Caleb Smith and Emily Hannan.

But up stepped James Davidson who began to pick up everything Tsunami could hit at him, as he commanded the Nuggets backcourt, which enabled Ben Wilde to get on the end of some consistent Tim Carter setting.

With Aaron Evans and Ronan Garth-lindsay to return this week for Tsunami, another close contest is on the cards.

The second game of the night sees Jack Hannan’s Rangers take on Kara Johnson’s Phantoms.

Phantoms threw everything at Heidelberg last week in their close loss. Johnson set well, ably supported by key middle Rowan Sanders, who is improving as each week goes by, and Tyler Puls.

Rangers will be coming off the bye but should be refreshed and ready for whatever Phantoms throw at them.

The key match-up here will be between the big-hitting duo of Hannan and Jack Exell. Both boys hit big and hard, so much will depend upon which team’s defence can stand up to the onslaught.

Phantoms will look to Laelah Robertson to control the defense while Mercedes Arnott will assume that responsibility for Rangers.

This game promises plenty and will go right down to the wire.

In A Reserve, Mark Block’s Blockparty will be out to continue its winning run when it takes-on ladder leaders Von Steiger Shadows.

Block is building a handy team with Maddie Mcqueen and Gemma Morgan slowly finding their feet, while Michael Kiffer is improving with every game he plays.

The second game sees Heidelberg taking on the winless Murtoa team.

With Shaun Bray back into the Murtoa team, this game could be closer than the respective ladder positions show.

In B Grade, all eyes will be on the top-of-the-table clash between HTLC Raiders and Phantom Masters.

Both teams are undefeated so a win here will be a psychological blow for the winning team.

Oscar Jackman and Kaden Lanyon are the key players for the boys from the Lutheran school, while Tim O’donnell and Kirah Smith are the go-to players for Phantom Masters.

Team USA will be out to score its first win of the season in the second game of the night in this grade, when it takes on Hot Shots.

Ballarat tournament

Volleyball Horsham’s Phantoms members will continue their buildup to the state league season when they travel to Ballarat this weekend for the annual Volleyball Ballarat Skins Tournament.

Nathan Berry, Jack Hannan, Jack Exell and Cam Robinson will take the court for the Honors men’s team, Tamikah Dockrill for the Honors women’s team, while Tyler Puls, Ryan Spruyt and Clay Heard will take to the court for the division-one team.

The tournament will be the final lead-up event before the state league season starts on April 9 for Phantoms.