The Year 7 & 8 Volleyballers and tennis players headed off to Kyabram on the Thursday 28th March with ambitions of winning their matches. We enjoyed an uneventful trip and landed at the volleyball stadium in Ky’ to be confronted with the news Mr. Cheal was dreading, the Volleyball Victoria State Players were not coming to conduct the clinic. To be fair, despite this disappointment, our teams were still ‘as keen as…’ Mr. Cheal (no regard for his obvious age handicap) quickly delved into the recesses of his experience and a clinic was organized for the 120 participants which was a terrific number of volleyballers.
The girls’ matches were really tight, especially the first Year 7 game where the sets were only decided by a couple of points with our girls being very narrowly beaten. Captain Alana Marr, Zea Atkinson and Cassandra Gadsden all did really well in their first competitive match. The Year 8 Girls won their first match and also narrowly lost the second to Nathalia. Captain Chelsi Clarke, Lily Hindson and Tiharn Duncan made some excellent shots for their team.
Both the Year 7 & 8 lads teams were triumphant, comfortably defeating their opposition, with a clinical display of serving and deft returning, along with some admirable teamwork and positive encouragement. It is fair to say in the Year 7 Division, the opposition were less than generous and could have done with a dose of humility but our boys displayed exemplary volleyball etiquette.
The Year 8 Team exhibited some very consistent serving and all players contributed at various times and in crucial points. Best on the day were -: Zach Ross, Shane Bell with his dynamic and well placed serves and Col Pearse. For the Year 7s it was skipper Ryan smith, Blake Groves and Will Graham who performed well.
It must be said with some pride that all the Echuca College students not only played their matches in a positive spirit but conducted themselves as true sportspeople, enthusing and encouraging in both the clinic and the matches.
MVP Year 7 Girls: Alana Marr MVP Year 8 Girls: Chelsi Clarke
MVP Year 7 Boys: Ryan Smith MVP Year 8 Boys: Zach Ross
