By David Berry

Volleyball Horsham’s A Grade competition resumes tonight with two mouth-watering clashes to restart the season.

Kicking off will be the battle between Shaun Bray’s Phantoms and Laelah Robertson’s Tsunami, with fourth spot on the ladder the reward for the winner.

Availability will be the key to the result of this game, throwing up a whole lot of ‘ifs’ and ‘maybes’.

If Noah Werry and Oscar Jackman are fit enough to play for Phantoms, these two will go a long way to determining the outcome.

If key attacker Alex Baker is back after missing the last round for Tsunami and if Robertson resumes her libero duties, Tsunami will be right in this contest.

If the Phantoms versus Tsunami game is mouth-watering then the following game between top-of-the-table Rangers and Hellenic Nuggets will be exceptional.

Rangers’ two big guns in Tyler Puls and Jack Hannan are giving setter Sammy Peachey an armchair ride, and the youngster is enjoying his good setting work. 

Hellenic Nuggets have great variety in their attack, with captain Dimitrios Vettos ever dangerous, opposite Tory Chapple, clever, and middle attacker Clay Heard, imposing.

If Heard can own the top of the net and keep Hannan or Puls quiet, Nuggets will go close to causing an upset. A great game ensues.

In the women’s competition, all eyes will be on court one and two at the same time at 6pm, as two entertaining games will be played with Ball Busters and Phantoms and Lakers and Heidelberg squaring off against each other.

Kymberley Murray and Larree Smith are in good touch for Ball Busters and they are going to have to be, as Phantoms has Greta Van and Chloe Mackley also playing well.

Lakers are eyeing off top spot on the ladder and would love nothing more than to take that coveted position away from Ball Busters, but they will have to be at their absolute best if they are going to defeat Heidelberg, which has Molly Carter and Allie Marchesini capable of hitting plenty of winners.

Ladybugs and Tsunami should win their games and keep in touch with the top four.

In B Grade, another top-of-the-table clash sees Luke Johns’ HTLC Tigers take on Mark Radford’s improving Phantoms Blue team.

Jac Ivess and Tim O’Donnell will need to keep the pressure on the HTLC team, so Tayte Wardle and Charles Hassall do not get the perfect sets that allows them to hit big.

Maccas Malakas should keep in touch with the double chance when they do battle with the young Stars team.

Phantoms in Bendigo

After a shock loss against Maroondah Cobras last week, Phantoms Premier men will be out to get onto the winners list when they take on Dandenong and Heidelberg on Saturday at Red Energy Arena in Bendigo.

Team captain Cam Robinson said it would be the team’s first home game for the season and it would be out to make a statement following last week’s result.

“We didn’t play all that well against Cobras, but in saying that we lost the first two sets 26-28 and 28-30 and won the third comfortably, so we’re not that far away,” he said.

“We won’t underestimate Dandenong as they are a hard team to play against, while Heidelberg is the current champion, and we know we are going to have to play a lot better if we are to have any chance against them.”

Phantoms Premier women continued its great start to the season when it made short work of VIP Irizar.

The team will renew acquaintances with Yarra, who beat them in the semi-finals at Warrnambool.

Captain Tamikah Dockrill is keen to get revenge against their metro counterparts.

“The team is coming together nicely and we will be strengthened by the return of key middle Shatha this week, so we will go in confident of doing well,” she said.

All other Phantoms’ teams will also play in Bendigo this week.

 

• Lightning spike for Fletcher

Volleyball Horsham members and the wider community are encouraged to get behind a ‘Lightning Spike for Fletcher’ fundraising day on June 2.

The day aims to raise money for the Dandy family as they support Fletcher in his fight against illness.

The plan is to have a Lightning Spike carnival, with senior and junior teams invited to enter, with the proceeds from the entry fees going towards the fundraiser. There will also be a canteen operating throughout the day and a barbecue lunch, while a giant raffle is being organised.

“The association ran a similar day last year with significant funds raised in support of a family that lost their home in a fire, and we are looking to do likewise again for Fletcher and his family,” Volleyball Horsham’s Kara Johnson said.

The entire April 17, 2024 edition of The Weekly Advertiser is available online. READ IT HERE!