The top two teams from last season are the early pacesetters in Volleyball Horsham’s “A” grade competition.
Heidelberg and Phantoms have opened their seasons in strong fashion, winning both games and showing good form.
The highlight match of round two saw Heidelberg bounce back from a first set loss against Shados Inala to score a two sets to one win.
Youngster Lloyd Baker picked up were he finished from the week before, dominating through the middle and combining well with setter Nathan Berry. Both Shaun Bray and Cleo Baker were consistent on reception enabling the Berry/Baker show to work effectively.
Shados Inala, missing Jordy Weidemann, will take plenty from the loss, as youngsters Caleb Smith and Ned Pilmore showed great improvement under the tutelage of veteran Tim Popple.
In other games Phantoms kept Raptors on the bottom of the ladder with a clinical straight sets victory.
Kara Johnson set well for Phantoms while James Davidson and the returning Loucas Vettos were as wily as ever as middle attackers.
Volleyroos had to pull out all stops to beat Von Steiger Bloods. The Bloods were first to twenty in all three sets, but failed to seal the deal when it mattered most enabling Volleyroos to score their first win of the season.
In “B” grade Murtoa Kings, with Jason Logan and Colby Ledgar combining well, jumped into the top six with a strong win over Savages. But it is an all too familiar look at the top of the ladder with Waterhammers, Von Steiger Bloods and Phantom Masters occupying the top three positions.
Von Steiger Boomers showed good team play when they accounted for stablemates Von Steiger Gangsters, with Gavin Brown and Ruben Ferguson hitting plenty of winners.
In “C” grade close games were the order of the night with three games decided on points.
Murtoa Railway hung on to beat the fast finishing HTLC Raiders by four points, Murtoa Lizards came from behind to beat Von Steiger Shadows by two points and Bingo Biddies retained top spot on the ladder with an eight point win over Notorious D.I.G.
In the battle of the all girls teams, HC Hotdogs were too good for Raptors, with Antonia Gunther and Skyla Parkinson combining well, while the HTLC Seagulls scored their first win as a team with a close win over Sets On The Beach.
In the Juniors grade, HC Starfighters took bragging rights at Horsham College with a good win over HC Storm, HTLC Phantoms kept their winning record against Murtoa Geckos intact and Volleyroos scored their first win of the season accounting for the Murtoa Gods, with Mia Geue and Tiffany Petering playing well.
This weekend sees Volleyball Horsham members representing Phantoms at the annual Warrnambool Seasie Tournament.
72 teams from across Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania will do battle over the three days across four divisions of men and women.
Laelah Robertson and Tamikah Dockrill will play in the Open Honors women’s division while Kara Johnson, Cleo Baker and Rebecca Allan will be in the division one team.
Matthew Berry, Chris Radford and Jack Hannan will be playing in the Open Honors men’s division, while Tim Popple and Nathan Berry will join forces in the division two team.