Volleyball
19 August, 2025
Next-gen volleyball on show
The future of volleyball in the region will be on full display on Wednesday when the Year 7 and 8 Black Ranges/Little Desert school volleyball will be held at the basketball stadium.
The first progression towards the School Sport Victoria state finals, the winning schools will progress to the Grater Western Region finals on September 9, before the state finals in term 4.
All Wimmera schools are represented across the four divisions, including for the first time at this level Ararat College.
Wimmera Lutheran College and Volleyball Horsham vice-president Matt McLoughlin said history showed that the winning teams on this day were a good chance to progress to the state finals.
“The majority of the kids play regularly in the Volleyball Horsham junior competition, giving them the much-needed match play in the lead up to this event," McLoughlin said.
“This day is the hardest volleyball the teams are likely to face, given the strength of volleyball in the region.”
McLoughlin has six teams participating with two teams in each of the Year 7 and 8 girls' divisions and one in each of the Year 7 and 8 boys, while Horsham College has two in each of the boys' divisions and one in the girls.
“I know the WLC teams are really keen to do well as they enjoy the opportunity to represent their school at events like this," he said.
McLoughlin said the Year 8 girls' competition should see Horsham College progress, if they had everyone available, as they had a strong team.
“Girls like Eden Pumpa, Stella Angue and Maci James have been playing together since they were in Year 7 in the Volleyball Horsham junior competitions, winning each season," he said.
With two teams in the Year 7 girls' division, McLoughlin has a strong hand but is wary of the Horsham College team.
“It will be interesting to see where Drew Armstrong plays, either with the Year 8 team or this team as she is in great form at present and has been training in the state program as she prepares for national juniors in Perth at the end of term.”
The Year 8 boys' competition has been split into two pools with six teams participating.
McLoughlin said the team to look out for in this division could be Murtoa.
“They have a few boys in Bentley Pendlebury and Kayne Sartori-Billman who are members of the Volleyball Horsham Academy Program so will be strong players, but I know my WLC boys are keen.
“In the Year 7 boys' division, St Brigid’s could be the smokey as they have some talented youngsters who have recently had some external coaching in preparation for this event.”
It all adds up to a big day of junior volleyball where the next generation of volleyball superstars just may be unearthed.
Play will start at 9.20am and continue until around 2.30pm, with all games at the basketball stadium.
