Volleyball WA and the City of Bunbury are excited to announce Volley by the Bay will return to Bunbury this April.
The volleyball festival will see Bunbury once again welcome Australia’s best junior beach volleyball players to Koombana Bay for a six-day competition. Incorporating the Australian Under 23, Under 21 and Junior Beach Volleyball Championships, the competition is tracking to once again break national participation numbers for volleyball.
Volleyball WA Chief Executive Officer Robyn Kuhl said the six-day event ‘will once again showcase the best of the south west region and will offer the chance for all sporting fans to celebrate the incredible national volleyball talent’.
“Volley by the Bay proved to be one of the southern hemisphere’s pinnacle junior sporting events in 2018. From the high quality competition, picturesque location and overall event experience, we knew that we had to return to Koombana Bay in 2019.” Ms Kuhl said.
“The response from the Australian volleyball community has been overwhelmingly positive and plans for 2019 indicate that this year’s event will bigger and better. We anticipate that more than 4,000 people will attend the event either as a player, coach, official or spectator.”
The 2018 event was an unrivaled success for the sport and south west region. It surpassed national expectations by setting a new national junior participation record and injected more than 1.8 million dollars in to the south-west economy. Bunbury Mayor Gary Brennan said it was an honour for the City to be hosting the National Junior Beach Volleyball Championships once again at the iconic Koombana Bay.
“Last year’s event was sensational and the City was a hive of activity with competitors and their families enjoying the spoils of the Bunbury Geographe region,” Mayor Brennan said.
“On behalf of Council and the community I welcome them once again to paradise and encourage locals to show their support for this exciting sporting event. It is a privilege to host such a high quality event.”
Volley by the Bay’s success was also recognised with a nomination for Professional Event of the Year at the 2018 WA Sport and Recreation Industry Awards. The award recognised events delivered on a commercial scale, attained a significant profile, demonstrated innovation and provided a legacy for the sport.
The 2019 Volley by the Bay event will be held along Bunbury’s Koombana Bay from the 13th to 18th of April. The event will begin with the 2019 Australian U23 & U21 Beach Volleyball Championships on the 13th and 14th , followed by the 2019 Australian Junior Beach Volleyball Championships from the 15th to the 18th of April.