Finals

Scott Ross Reports

Junior Grand Finals kicked off the night with the 15 Girls Topaz division. Girton Panfrieds faced off against Weeroona Dollies. In a tight five set match Girton took the points 15-7 in the last set with Georgie Jenkins playing well for the winning side. In the 15 Girls Jade division Eaglehawk Panthers scored a convincing win over Kangaroo Flat 7’s. Lead by Sinead Archabald the Panthers were too strong winning the match 3 sets to nil. In the 15 Boys division Girton Tigers took on Flora Hill Blue. After a convincing start the Flora Hill side faltered in the final three sets with the Gitron side winning the match 3 sets to 1.

In the 17 Girls Onyx Division Girton Bang proved too strong for the Mighty Kangas with Kirrily Knight and Alex Egan helping their side to a 3 set to nil win, while in the Ruby 17 Girls Match Girton Phoenix won a tight first set 30-28 then went on to defeat Flora Hill Golden three sets to nil. The final Junior match of the night saw Girton 3T’s play against Bendigo Seniors. In a tight match Girton looked to have the match won after winning the first two sets. Bendigo Senior hit back winning the third, however Girton wrapped up the match thanks to the consistent play of Callum Gordon taking out the fourth set.

The Junior season MVP’s were also named as Sean O’Connor from Flora Hill Blue won the Under 15 boys award and David Blume taking out the Under 17 Boys award on 10 votes for the season.

In Junior Girls divisions Karina Smith won the Under 15 Girls Topaz MVP, Sinead Archbold took out the Under 15 Jade division award, Zoe Pederson won the 17 Girls Ruby division, while Academy of Sport representative Laura Kirby won the 17 Girls Onyx MVP on 25 votes.

In Men’s Division 2 Grand final action perennial finalists Eaglehawk Rhubarb showed they still have what it takes as they forced ladder leaders Golden Square Hawks to five sets. Both sides boasted decades of experience on the court with Golden Square Hawks looking to Keenan Jack and the ever reliable Wayne Symons for points while Eaglehawk relied on the consistent setting of John Pearce and youngster Reece Healy to hit many winners. In a tight battle Golden Square proved too strong in the fifth set taking out the match 3 sets to 2.

In the Mixed competition top of the table Camp Hillians faced off against Squashies in the battle for the premiership. Camp Hill players Mary Preston and Jill Scobie looked to have the measure of the Squashies side, however during several periods of the match Robyn Ridbell and Anne Sae Lee scored many points for their team. In the end Camp Hillians took out the match 75 points to 47 points.

The top Women’s Division Golden Square took on team mates Golden Square Strewth. After Strewth played a five set match last week in the Semi Final they took the experience of a long match into the Grand Final. Golden Square jumped to an early lead winning the first two sets on the back of some great spiking from Nicole Lindsay and Ellie Mann. Strewth lurched into action in the third set winning the third and the fourth set to take the match to a decider. Catie McWaters and Emily Keown saw Strewth over the line 15-11 in the decider to win the Premiership for their side.

Women’s Division 2 saw Golden Square T’s play a tight match against Flora Hill Spikers. The match saw two sets go to 27 points, with only 14 points separating the sides after five sets of volleyball. Golden Square relied on Kerrie Stanley and Laura Kirby for their winners while the victorious Flora Hill side, which triumphed in five sets, looked to the experience of Kate Walklate and Olivia Geyde to steady the side while they won the deciding set.

In the last Grand Final for the match Tsunami faced off against Girton Thumpers in Men’s Division 1. During schoolies week the Girton side were ravaged with absences, while the consistent play of Tsunami kept constant pressure on the in-experienced Girton team. Bets on court for the young Girton side was Todd Broadbent, while the premiership winning Tsunami side added their 10th premiership to he trophy cabinet since the year 2000. Tsunami were well served by the consistent passing of Jeremy Ross, while Tom Longford and James Winzar dominated the net through the middle spiking many winners.

The Bendigo Volleyball Association will now look towards its Autumn season which starts in the new year, with any teams interested in playing encouraged to contact the Schweppes Centre.

Scott Ross.
Bendigo Volleyball Association.

Full Results:

2007 Spring Season Grand Finals Schedule.
17G Onyx Girton Bang df Mighty Kangas 27-25,25-17,25-22.
17G Ruby Girton Phoenix df F.Hill Golden 30-28,25-13,25-21.
15G Topaz Girton Panfried df Weeroona Dollies 17-25,25-22,13-25,25-19,15-7.
17 Boys Girton 3Ts df Bendigo Seniors 25-16,25-21,25-27,25-23.
15 Boys Girton Tigers df Flora Hill Blue 22-25,25-18,27-25,25-16.
15G Jade Eaglehawk Hawk Panthers df Kangaroo Flat 7s 25-16,25-20,25-11.
WD 1 G.Square Strewth df Golden Square 23-25,23-25,25-15,25-23,15-11.
MD 2 G.Square Hawks df E.Hawk Rhubarb 25-14,21-25,25-23,25-10,15-7.
WD2 Flora Hill Spikers df Golden Square Ts 25-23,23-25,27-25,23-25,15-5.
Mixed Camp Hillians v Squashies 25-11,25-17,25-19.
MD1 Tsunami df Girton Thumpers 25-18,25-17,22-25,25-15.