By David Berry

Six of the seven minor premiers in Volleyball Horsham’s winter season grand finals were victorious on grand final night.

In A Grade, Phantoms beat Hellenic Nuggets in straight sets, 25-20, 25-14, 25-18.

In a complete contrast, Phantoms found a way to win points with good variety in attack, while Nuggets tried everything, but the Phantoms’ defence was just too strong.

The A Grade Robinson Medal winner was Phantoms’ Tyler Puls, ahead of Clay Heard, Hellenic Nuggets, while Tyler Snowden was the Abud Medalist for the most consistent male, and Kara Johnson the McIntyre Medalist for the most consistent female.

In A Reserve, Heidelberg prevailed over International Rescue, once again in straight sets 25-21, 25-13, 30-28.

Heidelberg was strong on serve, putting their opponents on the back foot in each of the first two sets. International Rescue reversed that trend in the third, taking an early 7-1 lead, but was unable to capitalise on their strong start, allowing Heidelberg back into the contest.

The A Reserve Alexander Medal winner was James Davidson, Heidelberg, defeating Von Steiger Shadows’ Adam Harrison, with Rowan Sanders taking the Abud Medal and Tayla Eltze and Lily Adams sharing the McIntyre Medal.

CHS Group put its stamp on the B Grade grand final, winning in straight sets over the HTLC Tigers, 25-15, 25-23, 25-20. 

Chris Hopper and Chaminda Gamage swapped the whites for kneepads and picked up where they left off the cricket field, continually winning points with their cleverness at the net. 

The Internationals’ Adel Rastegar-Peymani took Radford Medal honors as MVP from Ilze Van Zyl of  HTLC Tigers, with Chris Hopper awarded the Abud Medal and Chloe Mackley the McIntyre Medal.

It was a more contrasting C Grade grand final, with the youngsters in the Hurricanes team proving too good for their ageing Murtoa Railway opponents. The ability to learn from their mistakes was the key for Hurricanes, winning in straight sets, 25-20, 25-15, 25-12. 

Serena Johns and Malakai Van Buuren dominated for Hurricanes and went one-two in the O’Connor Medal count, with Johns taking MVP honors from Van Buuren, while Kayne Sartori-Billman won the Abud Medal and Victoria Brown the McIntyre Medal.

In the Women’s A grand final it was another straight sets win for the top team, this time Phantoms prevailing over Ballbusters, winning 25-21, 25-21, 25-18. 

Women’s A MVP Laelah Robertson enjoyed a successful night, with Heidelberg’s Molly Carter runner-up, while Alysha Cozens showed she has not lost any skills taking the McIntyre Medal.

In Women’s B Grade, HTLC Thorns bounced back from losing the first two sets to defeat HTLC Ladybugs in five sets, 12-25, 12-25, 25-23, 25-14, 15-3 on the back of some brilliant short serving from Matilda Horvat.

Kylie Angue took MVP honors from Rej Smith, with Jenel Conteh awarded the McIntyre Medal.

The biggest upset of the finals series came in the junior grand final when Phantoms, playing with only five players, inflicted Stars Blue’s only loss for the season, winning a close fought final in five sets, 25-27, 25-18, 25-15, 24-26, 15-10.

Eden Pumpa from Strikers took the Ladlow Medal as MVP from Shayne Johns of Stars Blue, with Justice McKenzie of Vipers winning the Abud Medal and Drew Armstrong of Von Steiger Kids the McIntyre Medal.

The focus will now switch to the Volleyball Victoria Junior Open tournament in Melbourne this week, with Volleyball Horsham the only country association represented among 160 teams participating.

The association will have a year-12 boys and girls team playing at the State Volleyball Centre, with a year-nine girls’ team playing at MSAC.

Finals for the year-12 teams will be today, with the year-nine girls’ final to be played on Saturday.

The entire November 27, 2024 edition of The Weekly Advertiser is available online. READ IT HERE!

The entire November,27, 2024 edition of AgLife is available online. READ IT HERE!