Yarra Ranges Volleyball Club

Honours Women

Yarra Ranges 3 – Renegades 2

1st  (Renegades) against 3rd (Yarra).  This was always going to be a massive match.

Point for point in the first two sets, with Yarra taking each set out by a narrow margin.

We wandered off our game plan “pathway” over the next two sets, and while we were never far away in each of the next two sets, we didn’t appear to be capable of winning them.

The fifth set was a beauty.  As a coach, standing on the sideline, I was very surprised to see the score at 8-7, and then again, after what appeared to be a minute or two, we were ahead 11-7.  After a couple of late rallies by Renegades, we kept our cool and playing to the plan, the fifth set was ours, 15-12.

A huge effort by all the squad with precision setting by Georgia and Tanya, certainly kept Yarra’s ability to play smart attacking volleyball.

As has been the case, over the last four weeks of winning matches, to single out individual players in what has been a fantastic team effort, would not do justice to the team.

This match showed how a team has to play to achieve the desired result.  The effort at trainings is now starting to bear fruit on match day.  Well done to all the players.  This was one of the best team games we have seen from a Yarra side for a long time.

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Division 1 Womens

Yarra Ranges 1 – Renegades 3

4th  (Renegades) against 3rd (Yarra).

The Renegades team was a mixture of experience and skill.

As the score line for each set showed, we were always pretty close, but with youth and enthusiasm as our major asset, the “old heads” of Renegades proved to be the difference.

This particular game found that if our blocks were not effective, then the defence had to change.  We did this in the third set and found our defence was picking up the ball a lot better.

However, it was again, the experience of the opposition in tight rallies that proved the difference.  They just managed to put the ball where we weren’t, at the right times.

Our trainings should reflect an increase in blocking practice and floating defence where our defenders have to read the attackers and move accordingly.  All things that are easily remedied over the next few trainings.

Overall, with the number of players coming back after a week of illnesses, the team played very well.  With a good training under their belt this week and next week, look out our next opponent, Mornington in two weekends time.

Women’s Div. 1

Round 5  -  Melbourne Falcons (3) def Yarra Ranges (2) 

Well done to all the girls, I was very pleased with how everybody played. A disappointing result in what was an excellent, hard-fought game. I guess you could call it a positive loss, for now the girls know that they still have a lot of work to do and effort needs to pick up at training.

We were down 2 players in Suzi and Kat, but they were covered by Josie, Danica and Emily who has come back from injury. All three did their jobs well with the surprise being Danica who usually libero’s.

Mandy, still suffering a shoulder injury, stepped into the libero position. She is a great player who passes well and has good form. Her self-confidence would probably benefit from more practice, but at this stage I am very confident in her abilities.

Michelle and Ingrid ran well together through the middle, and both had good touches on the block.

Kate was great as opposite, with improving serve and well adjusted hits. She kept playing herself into every line-up, as did Amy and Ash. They always seem to play steady games with good intensity. Very pleased with the sets in a game where the passes were good but not always the best. Excellent.

This game proved to be a tough 5 set match. Serve reception needs to improve, as does our back court defense. Position 5 tip cover worked well and was always ready, but it is crucial that 4 and 6 take the T and back corner. Harder transition into defense positions is required from everybody.

Good game though girls, I’m still pleased with our progress. We’re still moving forward, not backwards! Heads up!!! 

Jon Miller - Coach

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Men’s Honours

Melbourne Falcons (3) def Yarra Ranges (2)

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Women Honours

Yarra Ranges 3 – Eastside Hawks 2

After the previous week’s superb effort over Heidelberg, this game was always going to be bit of unknown quantity.

Yarra had Georgia Sverns away on National duties, Sian Percy away with AVL duties and Karina Doyne away on holidays.  Add those players to Sandra Boi and Nikki Bishop still on our long-term injury list and Mia Percy returning from injury, our playing list was really taking a massive hit.

With that list of players unavailable, we had to dig deep in to the clubs talent pool.

We asked Belinda Mullen (Yarra Ranges past player/legend), Susannah Ball and Amy Grimwade to assist in covering the missing players.

In keeping with the Yarra spirit, these ladies really stepped up and performed superbly.

The first four sets played were closely fought out with neither side giving up or gaining any sort of lead.

The fifth set was a demonstration by our team how efficient and ruthless you have to be in that if you have the opportunity to get on top of your opposition, you must take it and hold on to it.  We won the fifth set 15:6.

This game was another step up from the previous week.  We are gaining a momentum that should cause concern to our opposition.  The next weekend brings a week off from State League due to the Ballarat Tournament.  This will give Yarra another opportunity to re-group, train hard and also give some of the injured players some valuable recovery time.

I am usually reluctant to single out players after such a comprehensive team win, but I will in this case.  I mentioned earlier Belinda, Susannah and Amy stepping up to assist, and they were superb, especially Belinda, who has been out of State League for over five years.  But I believe the player who deserves special mention is Tanya Wallace. Tanya played probably the best game of her career so far and was the main catalyst for our win.

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WD1 Match Report

Round 4 – Yarra Ranges (3) def Cossacks (2)

Excellent!!!

The girls played brilliantly. They did everything I asked and that included having fun! The starting six in each set and those that came off the bench all had successful games.

The best thing about the game was that when the enthusiasm was down, the girls were able to turn it around, some more than others, but everyone was involved.

Josie was brilliant as pass hitter and will definitely be amongst the votes!

Ash’s set choices were great again and it is always a plus to have a setter who can read the play and work well under pressure.

Michelle, Ingrid and definitely Kat did their jobs through the middle, but they all need to work hard on transition to draw a few more of opponents’ blocks.

Amy was great as always and follows direction beautifully. Her two tips to deep position one were excellent and a real stand-out for me.

I’m sure Suzi won’t be surprised to hear me say she’s played better games, but when she was able to focus she played well. All the girls should realize that their attitude on court can have an impact on the rest of the team, and therefore trying to stay positive works better for everyone. Even if you stuff up or get frustrated, you need to learn to turn it around straight away and get on with what you’re there for.

Emily who is coming back from injury did well and was very positive. Serving and back court was a plus and I could definitely see that she enjoyed being back in the game.

Danica once again had great control in back court, and her use of position five was successful. Tip cover is the key and I think when we get used to it, we won’t have any holes.

Very, very pleased with all of the girls. Great game, but I am always open to taking suggestions on board. I’ve been blessed with a great bunch of girls, being a new coach is always tough but I’m loving this!!!

GO YARRA!!!

Jon Miller - Coach

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Men’s Honours

Round 3 - Heidelberg (3) def Yarra Ranges (2)

In the first set the team got off to a slow start, not from bad play, just got caught napping. They quickly got firing though and some good serving and strong hitting through the middle kept us about 4 points behind through most of the set. Some strong transition kills from Luke Hill and Michael Stevens looked promising, but the end of the set came too soon.

The second set started out on even pegging. Yarra’s passing was accurate and Jason was finding many one of ones. However our block was struggling to contain the complex attack from Heidelberg and a run of service errors cost us the set.

With an obvious change in mindset, the boys jumped to an early lead in the third. Strong outside hitting from Michael and Luke, plus some great transition balls from Corey were getting everyone pumped, but the turnaround was accurate serving and blocking pressure. Yarra closed out the set quickly, trying to bring momentum into the fourth.

The fourth was definitely close, with Heidelberg again running some impressive attack, but our outside hitters matched it, hitting hard and high of hands. Nick Feeney’s added a few quick kills from behind and a number of telling defensive plays gave us a close lead. Heidelberg continued to push their attack through strong middle and fast outside balls, but Yarra’s strong passing made them try too hard on the serve and they couldn’t find the points they needed.

Yarra started slowly in the fifth, with a run of 2 passes and a few bad skill executions, but strong defence and outside hitting again got them back in the set. The two teams traded point for point, reaching 13-13. A service error and then a Heidelberg kill block came quicker than Yarra hoped, but it was pleasing to see attacking volleyball all the way till the end.

The third straight loss for the year, but hopefully this strong performance was the beginning of a turn-around in form. Definitely the strongest match so far this season. This week Yarra managed to transfer good training form, into good match form. Now the challenge is to train even better.

By Adam Weir.

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Women’s Honours

Round 3 Vs Heidelberg   Won 3:1

What a difference a week (and an attitude change) can make.

We came in to this game expecting it to be a hard fought battle and this proved to be the case.

Heidelberg had recruited one of the leading National Junior players in Karly Hynes, and pairing her with Shannon Campbell (their current Outside Hitter) meant they were expected to be a very powerful hitting side.

However, our own National Junior player, Georgia Sverns, proved to be equal to the task of stopping their hitters at the net and then providing exceptional sets to our own hitters to win the rallies.  All players who contested this match can rightfully claim that each one of them was “best on ground”.

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WD1 Match Report

Round 3 – Yarra Ranges (3) def Heidelberg (1)

As with our first game, once again we started short of our regular players due to school sports commitments, however we were helped out with Bindi Mullans and Nicky Bishop who did an excellent job and their presence was much appreciated by me and the girls.

Bindi was consistent through the middle and her experience helped organize front court as did Nicky in backcourt. Both girls have represented Australia and know what needs to be done to win games, this was a great opportunity for our girls to follow their example.

Amy and Josie, who turned up late due to school, had a fresh impact on the game, especially Josie with excellent line spikes from four into deep position one. Exactly what I asked to be done!

Suzi was Captain for the game, and was a go-to player, once again proving to be very reliable.

Also playing consistently and reliably was Ash with excellent set choices and serves.

Kate and Mandy were great in opposite with both girls scrambling well when needed.

Kat and Michelle once again did a great job through the middle, and Kat was a welcome surprise with some excellent serving.

It’s very easy to coach a team when all the players can do a job in any position. I’m rapt with how we are going so early in the season, I hope you all realize that you are all good players and it’s fantastic to see good players playing as a great team.

Other teams are taking notice and will prepare well to play us! Let’s make sure we’re ready for them!!!

Jon Miller - Coach

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Do you wish your game had a review? Ask your coach about it & get them to send a review to Jason Smale.

Women’s Honours

Round 1 Vs Camberwell Cobras Lost 3:2

Our first game of the 2009 Season was always going to be a measuring stick as to where we were at.

After winning the Warrnambool tournament a few weeks before, expectations were high and with a few new faces in our Honours squad, our players were excited for the season to get under way.

The first four sets were all closely fought and there were some exceptional rallies by both sides. However, the fifth set, the wheels fell off our serve-receive and attack and we went down 15-8.  A disappointing loss but showed there were some good signs for future matches.

Round 2 Vs Monash Lost 3:1

If this game could have been called off after the first set where we demolished the opposition 25:12, everyone on our team would have been happy.

The next three sets were possibly the most frustrating we could have participated in.  Unforced errors, missed serves and poor skill execution all combined to create a winning platform for our opposition.

We took a lot out of this match and the squad as a whole decided that we had to adopt a new attitude at training if we wanted to get wins on the board and make the finals again this season.

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Yarra Ranges Women’s Div. 1

Round 1 - Camberwell Cobras (3) def Yarra Ranges (1)

The team played reasonably well considering we were down 5 players due to Vic Gold training and injuries.

It was a four set loss to Camberwell Cobras who have a good back court defence and a couple of hard hitting and turning spikers.

Our girls gave as good as they got with hard outside and consistent middles. Our scrambling in back court was excellent with Amy throwing herself everywhere. Danica and Suzie are also worth a mention with their passing. Alex, who came up from Div. 2 to help out with numbers was excellent wherever she went, pass hitting, middle and serving. She would be welcome anytime! Ashley set well and consistent as always, and will only get better with harder training and practice at set choices. Good game! Kat blocked and hit well through the middle and Michelle, who had not been able to train very much, did ok considering.

All girls need to train hard if they want success at this level.

Not a bad first game, but we can do better!

Jon Miller - Coach

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Yarra Ranges Women’s Div. 1

Round 2 - Yarra Ranges (3) def Monash (0)

An excellent 3-0 win over Monash who also have a lot of good, experienced players. They have a couple of good players who can hit a hard line ball, but Ash, Amy and Kate managed to defend this beautifully.

Amy was chosen as Captain by the girls, and led the team by example with about 15-20 points won on her serve alone. Suzie did an excellent job with Amy as pass hitters. Kat, Ingrid and Michelle all did well through the middle, drawing blocks and hitting winners. Ashley was a standout with excellent setting and the occasional dump with success. I was very pleased with Mandy and Kate as opposites. Danica was great in defense and tip-coverage as our libero. Josie, who came off the bench, deserves a big mention as she played extremely well in her limited game time. Hitting, serving and passing is always tougher cold, and I was very pleased.

We had a full squad today and it is always tough to give everybody equal game time, especially when you have a quick game with a 3-0 win!

Great job against a good team, but don’t get complacent girls, there’s still lots to work on!!!

Jon Miller - Coach

Any player who hasn’t paid 1st installment of $250 before Saturday cannot play (unless prior arrangement).

Final fee installment due June 23rd.

Find out more about fees and how to pay.

Volleyball Victoria have published their inital draw for the 2009 Victorian Volleyball League. Normally these draws change from the inital revision, so don’t print it out and put it on the fridge quite yet.

For the latest version of the draw, visit http://www.vvl.org.au/