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Volleyball finals heat up

 

If last week was any indication, this week’s Volleyball Horsham A and B Grade finals promise plenty.

In A Grade Murtoa Lizards will look to send Phantoms out in straight sets in the first semi-final.

The Murtoa team upset Raptors in five entertaining sets last week and will go into the semi-final on a high, whereas Phantoms will be looking to bounce back from a disappointing qualifying final loss in four sets to Heidelberg.



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The two liberos will be the key to this final.

For Murtoa Lizards, Becky Schmidt has returned to A Grade and brings an experienced head to the young team, as well as some serious defensive effort.

On the other side of the net Ash Davidson will need to pass consistently, enabling Jon Fitzgerald and Paddy Sherry to be effective as middle attackers, if her Phantoms team is to have any chance of progressing.

Murtoa Lizards will be full of confidence after last week and will look to continue their fairytale run in the finals by winning in five sets.

In a second semi-final Shados Inala will do battle with Heidelberg, with the winner to progress through to the grand final.

Shados Inala will be without key setter Kara Johnson and middle blocker Loucas Vettos. 

This will put increased pressure on stand-in captain Jack Hannan to come up with the right combination to win.

Who will do the setting effectively enough to get Jordy Weidemann and Hannan into the game is the dilemma facing the captain.

Heidelberg had a slow start last week but powered home in a qualifying final and will be keen to upset the ladder leaders.

Tim Carter has settled into his new role as setter and will look to ensure Tyler Snowden and veteran Tim Popple have an armchair ride.

Too many questions hang over Shados Inala, hence why Heidelberg should win and go through to the grand final.

In B Grade the smokies of the competition Von Steiger Shadows square-off against perennial favorites Waterhammers in a first semi-final.

The Shadows have won their past five games and are playing with confidence on the back of the setting of Peter Armstrong and the big hitting of Mark Block, Elliot Kelly and Mitch Huff.

Waterhammers will be without their two best players from last week in Andrew Wundke and James Forss, which means Chris Baker and Matt Jolly will need to step up.

The Shadows should march into a preliminary final and end Waterhammers’ season.

In the second semi-final top of the ladder Von Steiger Bloods face up to Phantom Masters.

The Bloods will be without key setter Emma Avery making it tough for her hitters Blair Avery and Luke Hobbs.

The Phantom Masters have been consistent all season with Richard Nagorcka and Mark Radford setting well to big hitters Vaughn Maroske and Andrew Adamson.

Avery will be too big a loss for the Bloods to cover, so the Phantom Masters should progress through to the grand final.

Finals get underway at 6pm at St Brigid’s College stadium.

The entire November 13, 2019 edition of The Weekly Advertiser is available online. READ IT HERE!