The 2018 Australian Volleyball League National Championship Series is here and Melbourne is set to welcome the country’s top clubs over three massive days of volleyball.
The Volleyball WA Steel will make their national debut at the tournament when they face off against 11 clubs from around the country.
2018’s Australian Volleyball League will see a shake up in format with the previous 10 week competition reduced to a three day tournament. The new format has allowed for more teams to enter the league which is expected to push the Volleyball WA Steel. However returning Women’s Head Coach Mandy Combes is confident the teams are up for the challenge.
“The [girls] are primed and ready for the AVL Championships. All [the] teams have a tough draw of five or six matches over three days. With this in mind the Steel girls have designed training sessions to foster seamless transitions off the bench and keep the girls fresh for finals and the quest for a Gold medal.” Combes said.
“We have the depth, we have the talent and I strongly believe we have the will to go one step further this year. All volleyball eyes will be firmly fixed on Melbourne over the weekend. I think we can bring home the bacon.”
While the men’s team will enter the competition with not only a new name, but a new head coach, Mitchell Collins. A former Australian Volleyball League player and assistant coach of the Pearls, Collins has been tasked with developing a roster of new comers and returning players.
“The men have been training hard and challenging each other over the last couple of months to ensure we can make the most of our opportunities this weekend. The team in 2019 is a mix of experience and youth. That dynamic has resulted in the players continuously supporting each other and forging as one. [I’m] proud of the effort the team has put in and culture they have developed, we are excited to take on the rest of the competition.” Collins said.
While the Volleyball WA Steel name will make its debut, many of 2017’s Volleyball WA Hornets and Pearls players will return to the top league hungry to collect gold.
2017 marked a historic moment in the Australian Volleyball League, where for the first time both of WA’s top teams made it through to the Grand Final. The Hornets battled it out against the Queensland Pirates and the Pearls faced the Melbourne Uni Blues, with both teams falling short of the gold medal.
2018 Volleyball WA Steel – Women’s Team
Head Coach: Mandy Combes
Assistant Coach: Michelle Hilbrands
Captain: Jenny Harris
Tessa Browne
Waverley Burling
Jessica Burton
Kate Ganz
Dakoda Hallam
Elysse Hislop
Shelby Maher
Tenille Ryan
Jennifer Sadler
Olivia Stewart
Jackie Tamburri
Victoria Wells
Gemma Willmott
2018 Volleyball WA Steel – Men’s Team
Head Coach: Mitchell Collins
Assistant Coach: Stuart Carr
Captain: Matthew Pallot
Jeremy Gryguc
Matthew Haddon
Jonathan Hague
Trent Irwin
Ky Landers
Brett Lewington
Kable Monk
Joseph Paul
Korben Phillips
Ryan Smith
Matthew Waddington
Declan Walsh
Dylan Wood
Volleyball WA would like to wish both teams the best of luck for the 2018 competition.
The 2018 Australian Volleyball League National Championship Series is set to run from the 7th to the 9th of December at Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre.
The draw for the 2018 Australian Volleyball League National Championship Series can be found here: http://www.avl.org.au/2018-draw
To follow all of the volleyball action head to the Volleyball WA Steel Facebook and Instagram pages. Otherwise follow the Australian Volleyball League Facebook for upcoming information about live results and live stream.