There will be some very nervous and excited Volleyball Horsham members this week as they prepare for round one of the Victorian Volleyball League.
Among three teenagers making their premier women’s debut for Phantoms against Victoria University on Saturday, will be Volleyball Horsham Academy athlete Tamikah Dockrill.
“Dockrill was presented with her playing top on Wednesday night at volleyball in front of her peers, and the look of excitement on her face was priceless,” said premier women’s coach and Volleyball Horsham president David Berry.
Dockrill has improved significantly over the course of the last six months and did enough at the recent Warrnambool tournament to retain her spot as the number two middle blocker.
She is beginning to build a good rapport with setter Kara Johnson and the pair of them are starting to form a strong combination. Playing together in the same “A” grade team has helped build this understanding between setter and middle attacker.
Another Academy member who will also make their Phantoms debut will be Lloyd Baker. Baker is another example of a player who has developed significantly over the last six months, and he will line up in the division two Phantoms Purple team as a starting middle blocker.
“Apart from improving Lloyd has grown which helps when you play that middle blocking role. He is understanding the game better now and he’ll certainly have fun with last season’s grand final MVP Tom Hermans setting to him.”
Returning after a year off will be Eadie Garth-Lindsay. She will come back in through the division three women’s team to ease her back into the swing of things.
“We’re looking forward to having Eadie back in the fold as she brings good energy and experience to a young team.”
Apart from the debutants Volleyball Horsham members Shaun Bray, Will Saligari, Cleo Baker, Laelah Robertson, Delaney Wills, Nathan Berry, Jack Hannan, Kara Johnson and Tim Popple will all be in action on Saturday.
With the women’s division two team having a bye it means the likes of Chloe Brown, Hannah Whyte and Emily Hannah will have to wait for the Horsham round on April 13 and 14 to make their season’s debut.
With fifteen current players and former players in Matthew Berry, Nick Adamson, Cam Robinson, Kimberley Crabtree and Rebecca Allan participating in State League this season, it brings the number of Volleyball Horsham members to twenty involved which is great and vindicates the development, time and effort of all coaches, families and parents.