Bunbury, Western Australia
In what was a fantastic end to a long tournament, two VBVA players walked away from the premiere youth beach event in Australia, wearing gold and silver.
The past year has been rather large for both Blake and Lauren; finding themselves centre stage as the ‘Australian program spotlight’ fixed its gaze upon them.
For Blake, the year brought official confirmation of Australian representation opportunities, as well as an invite into the VA Centre of Excellence program. For Lauren, representing Australia at the World Champs in China, was followed closely by a place at the Youth Olympics, held in Argentina.
Hard to close a year that big on a high… other than by making the final of your age group at the Australian Junior Beach Volleyball Championships, held in Bunbury, WA.
Blake and Mitch… Champions
For Blake, playing alongside partner Mitch it was gold, for Lauren and Nicola Gregory silver.
Blake and Mitch moved through their pool comfortably, losing a single set on their way to five straight wins… and a direct route into the semi’s. 21-18, 21-16 against a WA/SA pairing – not usually granted – saw the Victorian pair through to the final.
Their Queensland opponents in the final – Morrow/Tabuarua – had won the corresponding pool, and were on a roll having breezed past fellow Queenslanders in their quarter, and Vic boys Bye/Van Rensburg in the semi’s.
Two unbeaten teams… as expected, the final didn’t disappoint. Blake and Mitch got off to a great start winning the first set 21-18, before Morrow/Tabuarua evened things out, 18-21. A point for point final set broke open just as both teams hit 10… with Blake and Mitch pulling away when it mattered most (15-10).
Gold for the boys from Victoria, and yet another junior national gold for a VBVA player.
Lauren and Nicola… silver!
Having cruised through the early pool matches, Lauren and Nicola were beaten in a tight third game (17-21, 21-16, 14-16) by West Australian pairing Sanchez/Serra. The only team that would have their measure for the duration of the tournament.
Second place in their pool meant a quarter final against SA opponents, and later a semi against another SA team. Both comfortable, straight set wins… meant a birth in the U19 junior nationals final. Their opponents? The same team that pipped them 16-14 in the pool rounds.
Sanchez/Serra continued their form, following their defeat of Lauren and Nicola, completing the pool in top spot, and sliding through the quarters and semi’s without losing a set. Unfortunately for Lauren and Nicola, the WA girls continued that run, defeating the Victorian pair in straight sets.
James finishes 4th, Zeb finishes 5th!
James, younger brother of twins – and now Australian junior representatives – Will and Sam, finished just outside the medals. Along with his partners, the Vic boys almost made the Gold medal match of the U15s.
Zeb, playing with Marcus Arena in the U19 division, lost out to the joint SA/WA pairing at the quarter final stage, finishing with a respectable equal 5th.
Well done to all.
