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Big night of volleyball finals

The entire June 23, 2021 edition of The Weekly Advertiser is available online. READ IT HERE!

By DAVID BERRY

A season that started out promising plenty will reach its conclusion tonight when Volleyball Horsham’s summer season grand finals will be decided.



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At one point it looked as though we would never reach this stage of our season, but thankfully all involved will be able to experience the thrill of playing in the ultimate game of the competition.

The flagship A Grade final will see Shados Inala and Heidelberg meet for the fourth time this season.

The ledger stands at three to one in favour of Heidelberg, with the most recent meeting being in the second semi-final where Shados Inala wore down Heidelberg in an epic five-setter.

Both teams have their share of big-name players, with Shados Inala well led by veteran Tim Popple and ably supported by young guns Will Saligari and Alex Baker.

Heidelberg will look to key setter Nathan Berry to make the right choices in attack, while the high-leaping duo of Paddy Sherry, in the middle attacking role and pass-hitter Jack Exell are two players you would pay to watch.

In B Grade, perennial favorites Waterhammers will take on the Von Steiger Shadows.

In a strange quirk of the draw the two teams have only met once this season, with Waterhammers winning comfortably.

Von Steiger Shadows have done it the hard way, winning the first-semi and preliminary finals, with these wins coming on the back of a settled six.

Waterhammers will need to stop the big-hitting Adam Harrison and Rohan Sanders. Andrew Wundke, Chris Baker and Michael Schneider are the keys here.

Both teams have been staples at this time of the season, with Waterhammers shooting for the seventh title, while Von Steiger Shadows are going for their eighth.

In C Grade, it will be a replay of the second semi-final when Holy St Pats takes on Heidelberg.

Holy St Pats leads the head-to-head battle two to one.

Matt McLoughlin and Kingsley Dalgleish are the key players for Holy St Pats, with their strong serving and clever play at the net.

Heidelberg will look to Molly Hobbs to continue her good work, while Allie Salter and Annika McDonald will be key players on the net.

In juniors, Murtoa Geckos and Phantoms have been the two stand-out teams all year and will meet for the fourth time, with Murtoa Geckos holding a two to one advantage over the Phantoms.

In their most recent meeting, Murtoa Geckos qualified for the grand final with a five-set win in the second semi-final. Ellonia Barnett, Ella Van Duren and Jorja Gardy are most consistent players for the Murtoa team.

Logan Young, Grady McCourt and Christian Ebersohn hold the key to a Phantoms upset.

Games get underway at 6pm with juniors and C Grade, followed at 7.30pm with A and B grades.

With the summer season reaching its conclusion tonight, Volleyball Horsham invites teams and individuals interested in participating in a winter season to register interest by emailing details to info@volleyballhorsham.com.au.

The winter season is scheduled to start in the last week of July.