On the 8th of August three Nayland College students join 37 other young volleyballers from the Tasman region, as they make the trek across the ditch to battle the best Queensland Schools have to offer, in the 2018 Queensland Senior Schools Cup.

Nayland College players in the squad are:

• Nikayla Hedge
  
• Riley Boeyen
  
• Jiahao Liu
  

10 staff made up of coaches and managers will be supporting their teams’ aspirations to return successful. Four teams (U19 and U17 boys and U19 and U17) girls will compete in U20 and U17 age categories.

In 2017 Nelson Bays Volleyball initiated a programme of volleyball skills development for all players wishing to take part, as pathway to develop their skills and knowledge of volleyball and improve their selection opportunities to represent the Province at National and International events. The programme has been aptly branded Te Totara and has received considerable support from the volleyball and wider community.

Nelson Bays Volleyball Te Totara teams first ventured to participate in the Queensland Schools Cup with an U19 boys’ and U19 girls’ team in 2017 – competing in the U20 Honours Grade. The girls finished in 8th place and the boy’s team unpredictably came home with the gold medal and U20 Boys Honours Champions title. A memorable experience for young athletes to play against the top Queensland schools.

This year four teams are heading to the Gold Coast to compete in the Queensland Schools Cup. The four teams have been training irregularly when the venue is available, every Sunday since April. The province is well represented this year with players selected from many of the top schools programs in Waimea College, Nayland College, Nelson College, and Nelson College for Girls, Motueka HS, Garin College and Marlborough Girls College. All players selected for Te Totara teams will also be representing their schools, proudly wearing their school crest on their playing kits, and travelling in their schools “number ones”.

Head Coach of the program, Josh Ovsenek, believes that this a great way to honour your school as you also represent your region. 

He goes on to say 

“Last year was a great chance to measure ourselves against quality Queensland schools and the U20 boys competed extraordinarily well to bring home the title”. 

 This year a new team combination will be heading back to defend it. When asked about how they will fair, Josh says 

“We were the unknown team last year. This year all four of our teams are in with a chance to medal, but everyone will be “gunning” for us. Excited to see how we go”.

Alongside Ovsenek who is returning to coach the U20 Boys Honours Grade entry, is the U20 Girls Honours Grade team coach Carol Heiford. Joining the programme are Dylan Wells coaching the U17 boys in Grade 1, and Cris Phelan coaching the U17 girls team in U17 Honours.

In addition to the three day tournament, the players experience Movie World, the Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary for a face to face visit with kangaroos, birds and koalas, stay at the Super Sports Centre in Runaway Bay, experience practical team building courses, and a shopping opportunity to finish!!

A great volleyball and life experience to be had by all. 

Regular updates and photos are (and will be) available on the Volleyball Nelson Bays facebook page https://www.facebook.com/volleynelsonbays/?ref=bookmarks