By DAVID BERRY

A back-to-back victory will be the primary incentive for Volleyball Horsham’s division-one men’s team at the 25th annual Volleyball Horsham open tournament.

Three new teams will challenge for the elite-division title, with Hickman’s Warriors from Bendigo, Sunraysia and a metro Kew club Brawndo, all out to dethrone Horsham’s top men’s team.

Horsham captain Matthew Berry is cautious about his team’s chances to defend the title after finishing third in Bendigo.

“We’ve added a bit more experience to our team for this tournament, with the inclusion of Mazenod middle blocker Aaron Magnusson, Melbourne Vipers head coach Josh Cowan and Nick Adamson, who is returning,” he said. 

“We know Hickman’s Warriors are going to be hard to beat, and Brawndo will also be tough – they play in the Kew elite competition, which is a strong competition.”

Red Renegades are also looking to go back-to-back in women’s division one, but similar to the men will face some strong competition including the Victorian White under-19 team featuring Volleyball Horsham members Laelah Robertson and Tamikah Dockrill.

Volleyball Horsham’s women’s division-one team will be strengthened with the inclusion of Victorian Blue under-19 libero Holly Eason and has Cleo Baker in division one at this event for the first time. Team captain Kara Johnson is hoping to improve on last year’s third-place finish.

Team United from South Australia is also mounting a defence for its men’s division-two title.

Volleyball Horsham’s team has strengthened with the inclusion of Jordy Weidemann, Jayden McQueen and Brady King. All three are capable division-one players.

Team captain Shaun Bray is keen for his team to reverse last year’s runner-up effort.

“With Tim Popple, Nathan Berry and King in the team, we feel confident of making it tough for Team United to defend its title,” he said.

Three new divisions, men’s division three, women’s division two and an under-15 mixed division, will feature at this year’s tournament.

Volleyball Horsham will be well represented in all three divisions with St Brigid’s Raptors stepping into open competition for the first time after winning junior division three years in a row.

They will be hard to beat in men’s division three, especially with inclusions Lloyd Baker, Tyler Puls and Scott Davidson.

Top junior team Raiders Black will be fancied to make the final in the under-15 mixed division but will face strong opposition from Warrnambool and Sunraysia.

The weekend will hit off on Friday night with ‘Harry’s Match 2’ at Horsham Basketball Stadium from 8pm.

This fixture commemorates Harry Denson who died last year, while this year the night will also honor Ben Jolley, son of Steve and Katrina Jolley, who died in 2017 and also Abe Kingston, son of George and Jo Kingston, who died this year.

Association vice-president Tim Popple said the association was shining a light on mental health and youth suicide.

“It’s so the community can be better educated on how to help families affected by such tragedies, and at the same time help those who are suffering with their mental health,” he said.

The night will featuring Kara Johnson’s Gold Stars, a team that won three silver medals and a gold medal in four years at State Schools Cup as well as a division-
two country championship gold and bronze medal side. This team has not played together for 10 years.

The team will go up against Murtoa College’s foundation players who helped put Murtoa volleyball on the map including Caitlin and Maddie McQueen, Sheridan Baker, Gemma Morgan, Lauren Drum and Makaelah Robertson.

Murtoa team coach Shaun Bray said it was great to see Makaelah, who has been training with the Australian Para Beach Volley team, back on the court.

“Following the girls’ match will be a men’s match featuring many players who were friends of Harry. Last year we had 23 players participate. We are looking forward to honoring all three boys the best way we know how – and that is through volleyball,” he said.

The association will raise money for BeyondBlue and Healthy Minds Horsham.

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