Sport 

Year 8 Volleyball

29 Year 8 students ventured to Dandenong Basketball Stadium on Monday 22nd March to represent the College in the Knox Division Volleyball competition.

With limited opportunities to train prior to the day, we weren’t sure how we would go. However, all four of our teams (Boys/Mixed A Team, Boys/Mixed B Team, Girls A Team, Girls B Team) played brilliantly throughout the day and the teamwork and camaraderie on display was outstanding.

Our Boys/Mixed A team won their first match against Boronia B, and then faced off against Rowville East in what would prove to be the decisive match in our pool. The boys got off to a great start which helped boost their confidence, and they ended up winning that match comfortably, which left us well positioned to finish top of our pool and play off in the final later that day. The team then defeated Bayswater and Upwey B before facing Upwey A in the A Grade Final.

We fell behind in the first set of the final and were off our game; we fought our way back but still went down 25 – 20. Despite playing poorly we knew that if we improved our serving and played to our strengths we could level up the match, and so it proved with us winning the second set. We maintained our momentum into the decisive set and ended up being crowned winners of Knox Division! This was a fantastic achievement and we are really looking forward to seeing how the team goes at the next level later in the year.

The Boys/Mixed B team also had a fantastic day. The improvement shown by these players throughout the day was wonderful and they really clicked as a team. They won 3 of their 4 pool matches against Boronia A, Fairhills and Rowville West (only losing to Upwey A) before facing Rowville East in the B Grade Final. Once again this match demonstrated the value of supportive team work as they won the first set before narrowly losing both the second and third sets.

The Girls A team had a tough assignment first up playing against Rowville East. However, by sticking to their guns and keeping the ball in play, the team won the first set and a major upset was looming. The match went right down the wire in each set but in the end Rowville East were victorious. The girls bounced back quickly defeating Boronia A, Fairhills and Upwey B in their remaining pool matches to finish second in their pool.

The Girls B team also won all but one of their pool matches, defeating Bayswater and Boronia B whilst losing to Upwey A. As both of our girls teams ended up second in their pool, they played each other in the B Grade Final, which was a really enjoyable way to end a great day of competition. The Girls A team emerged the winner but everyone had a great time.

Congratulations to all of the students who represented Wantirna, we were both very proud of the manner in which they played and the support they gave each other. It was a terrific day of interschool sport.

Danielle Brotto and Mark Oudshoorn

Coaches