64 teams have battled it out for the state titles at the 2019 Alcohol. Think Again Beach Volleyball WA State Open. The elite division provided a weekend of surprise upsets and underdog winners with Volleyball WA Steel players taking out both the women and men elite state titles.
In the women’s elite division it was number one seed Jennifer Sadler and Jen Harris up against the number two seed duo of Tenille Ryan and Minna Arminen. Fans were not disappointed with the ladies taking the game to three sets in 34 degree weather. The first set got the match off to an exhilarating start with both sides pushing for the win and taking the set to a 29-27 score card. Ryan and Arminen clinched the first set, however they were blown away by Sadler’s serving in the second set to force the game to a third. Enduring hot temperatures, Sadler and Harris were too good in the end securing the win and final set 15-11.
The men’s elite division lived up to the season’s standard and saw both the number one and two seed fail to make the final. In the end it was number three seed Jayson Fox and Adrian Lee up against number four seed Brett Lewington and Trent Irwin. Like the ladies, the gents battled it out in hot conditions and took the game to a third set. Fox and Lee were the early favourites taking out the first set 21-17, however Lewington and Irwin answered the challenge by winning the second set 21-16. The third set pushed both teams and neither team were willing to give up a point. Fox and Lee were the first to get match point, but Irwin and Lewington dug deep to collect the title.
Congratulations to all of our 2019 Alcohol. Think Again WA State Open medallists:
Women’s Elite Division: Jen Harris & Jennifer Sadler
Men’s Elite Division: Brett Lewington & Trent Irwin
Women’s Competitive Division: Elizabeth Alchin & Caitlin Whincup
Men’s Competitive Division: Jayden Godfrey & Travis Nurse
Men’s U18 Division: Korben Phillips & Tom Dempsey
Women’s U17 Division: Alexia Zammit & Cassie Dodd
Mixed U15 Division: Sebastian Northmore, Danyl Matthews & Jozua McMeekin
Thank you to Volleyball WA beach photographer Jeffrey Chan for capturing the weekend’s event. You can find all of his photos HERE.
Results from the weekend can be found HERE.
Photo Credit: Jeffrey Chan