On Friday the Dungog High Junior girls’ volleyball team travelled to Hunter Sports High to take on the region’s best volleyball schools in an under-15s event.
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The team has been working hard to develop and refine their skills and had been itching for a chance to display them again, especially after finishing third in a recent NSW Cup event.
The girls have persevered with learning an aggressive attacking style of volleyball which requires discipline and a high level of confidence in their passing.
The day started with a confident win against Hunter Sports High’s No 1 team.
We have been guilty in the past of starting nervously but there were no signs of nerves on this occasion with a straight sets victory.
Next up Whitebridge who provided a sterner opposition and led deep into both sets before the Dungog girls took charge and came from behind to claim victory.
From then on the team seemed to get better and better.
The final pool match was against Taree High and was an opportunity for our reserves to get extended court time. The standard of our play was maintained and the girls took the match in two very dominant sets.
Semi-final time and the team having taken top place in their pool had the advantage of playing the second placed team from the opposing group.
Hayley Forbes, Sarah McKinna and first time player Bethany McLoughlin spiked with great force at outside hitter.
Our centre blockers Elyse Standing, Kayla Patch and Maddisyn Fordham intimidated at the net.
With great passing from Tabitha Beisler and outstanding setting from Breanna Miller the team was able to defeat Hunter Sports High No 2 team with efficiency.
The highlight of the match was Bailee Smith’s coolness under pressure as she served out the second set in fine style.
The grand final match was against Callaghan College Wallsend and proved to be the girls’ sternest test.
The team struggled for cohesion early on and eventually went down in a close game 25-21.
The second set was again close but Dungog where able to steal a break with some consistent serving from Elyse and Maddy and the team closed out the set 25-16.
The third and final set is played to 15 points so the pressure is on from the start.
The girls were instructed to trust in their skills and disregard the scoreboard.
It was marvellous to see the team deal with pressure and play their best volleyball when it was most needed.
The girls train each and every lunchtime and victory in the grand final was just reward for all of their hard work.