Features

Here it is! The Summer holiday schedule will take in the remainder of 2017, and the whole month of January. If you’re only just discovering VBVA, and you want to get involved in the sport or you’re a state squad player looking for extra training email bam@vbva.com.au and we will work out the best session for you to attend.

Please note all ‘camps’ will require a minimum 8 participants to go ahead. They will be longer than the previous camps, with prices listed. Further details for the camps will be listed shortly. Unfortunately we are unable to run camps on a Wednesday through these holidays.

SUMMER HOLIDAY SCHEDULE

DECEMBER

TUESDAY 19th DECEMBER
4:30PM – 6PM | Tier 1/elite group – court 5

THURSDAY 21st DECEMBER
4:30PM – 6PM | TIER 2 – court 5
4:30PM – 6PM | TIER 1/elite group (game play) – court 6

SATURDAY 23rd DECEMBER
8AM – 9:30AM | TIER 1 guys – court 6
8AM – 9:30AM | MENTOR game
play | Tier 1 girls – court 7
9:30AM – 11AM | TIER 1 girls – court 6
9:30AM – 11AM | MENTOR game play | Tier 1 guys – court 7
11AM – 12:30PM | TIER 2 boys – court 6
11AM – 12:30PM | TIER 3 boys and girls – court 7

|| CHRISTMAS BREAK – Merry Festivemas!

SATURDAY 30th DECEMBER
8AM – 9:30AM | TIER 1 guys – court 6
8AM – 9:30AM | MENTOR game
play | Tier 1 girls – court 7
9:30AM – 11AM | TIER 1 girls – court 6
9:30AM – 11AM | MENTOR game play | Tier 1 guys – court 7
11AM – 12:30PM | TIER 2 boys – court 6
11AM – 12:30PM | TIER 3 boys and girls – court 7

|| NEW YEARS EVE – Happy New Year!

JANUARY

TUESDAY 2nd JANUARY
4:30PM – 6PM | Tier 1/elite group – court 5

THURSDAY 4th JANUARY – CAMP ONE
2PM – 6PM | $30pp | TIERS 1,2 and 3 – courts 5 and 6 *Minimum 8 participants

SATURDAY 6th JANUARY
8AM – 9:30AM | TIER 1 guys – court 6
8AM – 9:30AM | MENTOR game
play | Tier 1 girls – court 7
9:30AM – 11AM | TIER 1 girls – court 6
9:30AM – 11AM | MENTOR game play | Tier 1 guys – court 7
11AM – 12:30PM | TIER 2 boys – court 6
11AM – 12:30PM | TIER 3 boys and girls – court 7

TUESDAY 9th JANUARY
4:30PM – 6PM | Tier 1/elite group – court 5

THURSDAY 11th JANUARY
4:30PM – 6PM | TIER 2 – court 5
4:30PM – 6PM | TIER 1/elite group (game play) – court 6

SATURDAY 13th JANUARY
8AM – 9:30AM | TIER 1 guys – court 6
8AM – 9:30AM | MENTOR game
play | Tier 1 girls – court 7
9:30AM – 11AM | TIER 1 girls – court 6
9:30AM – 11AM | MENTOR game play | Tier 1 guys – court 7
11AM – 12:30PM | TIER 2 boys – court 6
11AM – 12:30PM | TIER 3 boys and girls – court 7

TUESDAY 16th JANUARY
4:30PM – 6PM | Tier 1/elite group – court 5

THURSDAY 18th JANUARY – CAMP TWO
2PM – 6PM | $30pp | TIERS 1,2 and 3 – courts 5 and 6 *Minimum 8 participants

SATURDAY 20th JANUARY
8AM – 9:30AM | TIER 1 guys – court 6
8AM – 9:30AM | MENTOR game
play | Tier 1 girls – court 7
9:30AM – 11AM | TIER 1 girls – court 6
9:30AM – 11AM | MENTOR game play | Tier 1 guys – court 7
11AM – 12:30PM | TIER 2 boys – court 6
11AM – 12:30PM | TIER 3 boys and girls – court 7

TUESDAY 23rd JANUARY
4:30PM – 6PM | Tier 1/elite group – court 5

THURSDAY 25th JANUARY – CAMP THREE
2PM – 6PM | $30pp | TIERS 1,2 and 3 – courts 5 and 6 *Minimum 8 participants

SATURDAY 27th JANUARY
8AM – 9:30AM | TIER 1 guys – court 6
8AM – 9:30AM | MENTOR game
play | Tier 1 girls – court 7
9:30AM – 11AM | TIER 1 girls – court 6
9:30AM – 11AM | MENTOR game play | Tier 1 guys – court 7
11AM – 12:30PM | TIER 2 boys – court 6
11AM – 12:30PM | TIER 3 boys and girls – court 7

TUESDAY 30th JANUARY
4:30PM – 6PM | Tier 1/elite group – court 5

FEBRUARY

THURSDAY 1st FEBRUARY
4:30PM – 6PM | TIER 2 – court 5
4:30PM – 6PM | TIER 1/elite group (game play) – court 6

What a brilliant start to the 2017/18 season, with results across the Pairs warm-up event (08/10/2017) and Round One of the Vic Beach Tour (15/10/2017). Which is why this wrap includes the results from both events.

We’ll start with Lauren… AAA winner! What a freak! Playing alongside the ageless Marta Slawuta, Lauren finished the Pairs event as the youngest ever winner of AAA Women’s, at just 15. They did it the hard way, beating the best players in Victoria in exceptionally close matches. In Round One of the official tour, the pair almost made back to back finals, only just losing to the eventual winners Date/Schaw 20-22, 22-24 in the semi’s.

Nick and Blake finished a respectable third in their Pairs Warm-up AAA Men’s pool, in what was Nick’s first ever foray in the division, and only Blake’s third. The lads held their own against the best players in the state, proving they’re moving closer to the top by the week. Nick was away for Round One, so Blake paired up with some old guy, losing a closely fought AA semi on a dodgy line call…

“It was out by almost 10cm! Can you see the ball mark ref?” argued that old guy.

Although, the other Round One AA semi saw Zeb – along with partner Mitch – pull through, and go on to win their final. That was Zeb’s first AA win, at only recently 16! A result that now opens the door to a ‘nothing to lose’ opportunity in AAA for Round Two. Brilliant job boys!

In the Women’s AA Lucia and Laura made it two straight final appearances, when they came back in their semi to beat the number one seeds in the division. It meant they would be lining up against the same opponents – Sarah Ellis and Sara Roth – who beat them in the final of the Pairs Warm-up a week early. A pairing they beat in both Pairs Warm-up pool matches.

Two straight finals shows just how close the girls are to breaking into their first AAA event.

Evie won her first AA match, playing alongside fellow crew member Eliza in Round One. This wouldn’t be all that significant, given she is in the Tier One fold, were it not for the fact Evie is only just 13! The pair went on to finish third in their pool. Eliza, was available to play Round One with Evie after regular partner Imy unfortunately broke a finger playing indoor. That shouldn’t keep her out for long though, which means Eliza and Imy will be back on court, continuing the fine form they showed in the Pairs Warm-up; taking each of their opponents – in what was a strong pool – to three sets.

In the Round One Men’s A division, a family affair saw dad Clinton – playing alongside former VBVA crew member Lachy Volk – up against his youngest son, and VBVA Tier One prodigy Joey and his partner Kyle. A tight contest, won by the old man and Lachy 17-15 in the third, was enough to ensure Rodda family bragging right stay with dad for at least one more event.

Finally, props to the Warriors crew, with Rudi and Octavi losing a close Pairs Warm-up AA final, and making the quarters a week later. Andrea stepped up onto the podium in Round One of the B division, losing a close final.

Great work crew!

We’re only two tournaments into the new season, yet 2017/18 is already looking great for Lucia and Laura, with appearances in the AA final of both events.

In what seems to be the creation of a rivalry, the same girls who beat Lucia and Laura in the ‘Pairs Warm-up’ – Sara Roth and Sarah Ellis – were the opponents they would eventually meet in the ’round one’ final of the Vic Beach Series. But to make the final, the girls had to push hard through a solid pool, tough quarter final opponents, and a relentless semi-final.

In the pool rounds Lucia and Laura had to get past older state representatives, Ruby Valentine-Bell and Keely Knight; the pairing of Koutsoukis/Kuklych, and Nguyen/Riemer. Wins against all three teams took them through to the quarter final stage and a meeting with former VBVA crew member Dee Tomic and her partner Natasha Wilmann – former State U17s coach for Lucia and Laura in 2016. The recent wind training Lucia and Laura have endured, ensured they could take advantage of the growing intensity of the afternoon breeze, beating Tomic/Wilmann in straight sets (18-11, 18-13).

The semi-finals, against previous AA winners and regular finalists Sara Orpana and Nathalie Brennan, was never going to be easy, but the girls stood up and made it count in a grueling three sets (18-10, 13-18, 15-10). Without any luck, they somehow managed to defeat the division top seeds and progress to their second final in a week.

Their opponents, Sara Roth and Sarah Ellis, lost to Lucia and Laura twice in the pool group at the last event, before coming back to beat the VBVA juniors in the final. This final would be the fourth competitive meeting between the teams in only two rounds. Unfortunately Roth/Ellis would even up the wins (18-14, 18-14), and more importantly, restrict Lucia and Laura to a 2nd place in consecutive tournaments.

Even with the loss, Lucia and Laura were still beaming; they had achieved their early season goal to make a AA final in the very first tournament, repeating the feat a week later… well ahead of schedule. Their goal to join close friend and fellow VBVA crew member Lauren in AAA is moving quickly from a dream to reality.

Well done girls!

The 2016/17 season saw Zeb step up week in week out, making AA semi-finals on a regular basis. But he couldn’t quite take that ‘final’ step. Two events into the new season, and Zeb has already broken through, winning AA and opening the door into AAA; the highest level in the state.

Undefeated through the pool rounds, Zeb and Mitch were pushed in a tight quarter final, finally overcoming VBVA ‘Warriors’ Octavi and Rudi in three sets (18-10, 18-20, 15-10). That win secured their spot in the semi-finals against Ben Abbott and Jono Cannon. As closely contested as the quarter, Zeb and Mitch somehow scraped through in another three set match (18-16, 12-18, 15-9).

Their opponents for the AA final – Dakota Lipton and German Jo Schaufler – had made their way through to the final with a semi win over VBVA beast Blake and some random old guy he’d drafted in last minute, to replace regular partner Nick.

As with the quarter and semi-finals, Zeb and Mitch had to battle it out over three sets to prevail, albeit comfortably taking out the last set 15-8.

That win, documented in image form by not a single parent watching, means Zeb follows Blake and Nick into the AAA division.

Congrats Zeb and Mitch.

The new 2017/18 season is almost here! We were forced to endure an entire winter with only one cancelled session due to inclement weather. If that luck runs through October to March it’ll be a fantastic beach season.

Tournaments start in October, along with midweek training in warm dusk sunlight. Below you’ll find the summer schedule as well as the spring holiday training camp times.

MENTOR game play will be back for the T1/elite group players from the 30th September.

Please note a switch in midweek training times for T1 and T2 groups.

SUMMER SCHEDULE

TUESDAY

(commencing 26th September)

4:30PM – 6PM | Tier 1/elite group – court 5

THURSDAY

(commencing 28th September)

4:30PM – 6PM | TIER 2 – court 5

4:30PM – 6PM | TIER 1/elite group (game play) – court 6

SATURDAY

(commencing 30th September)

8AM – 9:30AM | TIER 1 guys – court 6

8AM – 9:30AM | MENTOR game play | Tier 1 girls – court 7

9:30AM – 11AM | TIER 1 girls – court 6

9:30AM – 11AM | MENTOR game play | Tier 1 guys – court 7

11AM – 12:30PM | TIER 2 boys – court 6

11AM – 12:30PM | TIER 3 boys and girls – court 7

SPRING TRAINING CAMPS

WEDNESDAY 27th September & WEDNESDAY 4th October  2017* – $20pp – 3.5 hours – across two courts

8:30AM – 9:15AM | combined (Tier 1 and Tier 2 and 3) fitness drills
9:15AM – 10AM | Tier 1 – intense skills training | Tier 2/3 – game drills
10AM – 10:45AM | Tier 2/3 – intense skills training | Tier 1 – game drills
10:45AM – 12Midday | combined ‘kings/queens’ across two courts, with a relegation/promotion between courts.

*The holiday camp will require a minimum 8 peeps to go ahead. Please let me know ASAP if you plan to attend.

Each year Vic Beach Volleyball Academy takes a crew of its best players up from Melbourne, to Sydney’s iconic northern beaches.

From sand dune runs at Palm beach, to court drills at Newport beach; from water training at Collaroy beach rock pool to technique analysis on Manly beach… gnocchi, FIFA, beach, sushi train, pizza, beach, beach, beach… and B-grade cult-volley flick SIDE OUT on a big screen!

Here are a few videos and below a link to an image gallery.

VBVA 2017 SYDNEY CAMP In 4 minutes

[youtube id=”NH1-1nS1E_w” width=”620″ height=”360″]

VBVA 2017 SYDNEY CAMP Newport Beach Classic

[youtube id=”IYIG4VJIJbk” width=”620″ height=”360″]

And here is a link to the image gallery

Crew:
Nick, Eliza, Lucia, Laura, Linus, Blake, Ella, Annie, Joey, Evie

Coaches:
Bam, Clinton

With special thanks to:
Carl, Roger, NBVA, YHA Sydney Beachouse and a shout out to Sydney based VBVA crew Jett and Matt. Also a big thanks to Jason Busch Photography for the cover image to this story.

VBVA is supported by Beachcomber Cafe, Vic Beach and MBVA

Music created at BNGTCO studios, St Kilda

vbva.com.au

A large VBVA crew may have been in Sydney over the Labor Day long weekend, but there were still a number of academy players on show at round 9 of the Vic Beach Tour held on South Melbourne beach.

They came back from a defeat in the pool rounds against tour veterans Longley/Pocock, to beat the same opposition in the final.

Among them was AA winner Alba, playing alongside 2017 Australian U17s representative Nicola. They came back from a defeat in the pool rounds against tour veterans Longley/Pocock, to beat the same opposition in the final.

A fantastic achievement that was matched in the ‘A’ division by VBVA ‘warrior’ Nicole – step/mum to a whole bunch of VBVA T3 representatives. Nicole was partnered by former VBVA player Dee Tomic.

In the other divisions, Zeb and partner Mitch were knocked out in the AA quarters by eventual winners, the Hope brothers; and 12yo T2 prodigy Will won his first game… against twin brother Sam in the B men’s division.

Fantastic effort all-round crew!