Vipers back juniors

Volleyballers from across the Wimmera will receive an opportunity of a lifetime when Victoria’s national league men’s squad, the Victorian Vipers, visit Horsham for a series of clinics aimed at juniors.

The Vipers are preparing for the upcoming national league season — which includes community visits across Victoria.

The men finished with the bronze medal when they last played in 2019, while the women are the reigning national league champions.

The pandemic has caused the national league season to be cancelled for the past two years.

Head coach Josh Cowan said it was important to get the Vipers’ name out into the volleyball community across the state.

“Our girls are heading to South Gippsland for their clinic and I’m keen to get the men to the two biggest associations in country Victoria, in Horsham and Bendigo,” Cowan said.

“Having not played for the past two years, we want to ensure as many kids as possible get to know the Vipers name and these clinics will enable the kids to get up close and personal with the players.

“Volleyball Horsham has a proven track record with developing their junior players and are always supportive of opportunities for kids, so we thought, let’s get the Vipers to Horsham.”

The plan is to have three sessions during the weekend of September 3 and 4, with the first session starting at noon on the Saturday and running through to 2pm, followed by the second session from 3pm to 5pm.

The third session is on Sunday between 10am and noon.

“We’ll take the players through everything they need to know throughout the sessions and by having the three of them, we know that those who can’t make it due to local football and netball finals, can always find a session that suits them,” Cowan said.

Volleyball Horsham Academy coach Kimberley Crabtree said she was excited for the academy athletes to receive such an opportunity.

“We set aside funding from their levy for a camp and clinic and now this one has been offered. I can’t wait for our athletes to experience such an exciting opportunity,” Crabtree said.

“They have done a great job so far throughout our program and improved enormously in that time.

“Now to receive coaching from some of the best players in the state will be great for their development.”

Holy Trinity Lutheran College volleyball coach Matt Mcloughlin said he was excited for the juniors within his program.

“The clinics are open to all juniors aged between 14 and 18 and Volleyball Horsham has more than 100 members currently playing who could attend the clinics,” he said.

“I know I’ll be encouraging students from my program to get involved because this is a great opportunity.”

Cowan said he was in negotiations with Adelaide Storm to see if they wanted to travel to Horsham for a series of practice matches across the weekend, which would value-add to the clinic participants.

“If we can pull it off, it would be the icing on the cake, but even if we don’t, the weekend will be a great experience for all participants anyway,” he said.

The clinics are at St Brigid’s College stadium in Horsham and registrations will be via a link on the association’s website and social media platforms.

Cost is $25 for existing Volleyball Horsham members and $40 for non-members. Registration closes on Wednesday, August 31.