THE 30th annual Inverloch Beach Volleyball competition attracted 20 teams from Melbourne and across regional Victoria for a spectacular display of volleyball skill and healthy, fun-filled competition.
This tournament is known as the longest continuously run beach volleyball tournament in Victoria.
The quality of play attracted plenty of spectators along Inverloch’s stunning foreshore. Bruised earned the top division’s Grand Final win, defeating Eastside Eagles (31:24). This was a back to back win for Bruised, a team that featured players from the Australian Volleyball League and strong supporters of the competition for many years. Congratulations to Bruised: Tom de Vries, Will Crawford, Jacob Gruis, Jack McIntosh and Locky Morland.
The Pink division was the second division resulting from this pool. Monstars had a strong final game to win the Pink division ahead of Gas Bois (31:18).
Congratulations to Monstars: Jacob Caarels, Ben Caarels, Alex Miller and Andrew Provan.
The Green division attracted strong spectator support as our region’s next generation of volleyball athletes played in highly competitive matches all day.
Despite winning almost all of their matches, Dawgz were challenged by windy conditions towards the end of the tournament. Not to be outdone by their siblings in the Pink division, the Flintstones rose to the challenge in the Grand Final and defeated Dawgz (25:16). Congratulations on an outstanding performance by the Caarel family and friends, Esther Caarels, Rebecca Caarels, Ethan Caarels and Karen Hirabayashi.
Results in the Blue and Orange pools delivered some insanely close rankings with only a few percentage points launching teams into the Grand Final.
After pool play, the stronger teams entered the Orange division where Red Hot Silly Peppers defeated Loshen by the Ocean (26:16). In the Blue division, Wham Bams stepped up to defeat Power (25:20).
To celebrate 30 years of the tournament, Australian Olympian and Commonwealth Games beach volleyball athlete, Chris McHugh supported the event by donating two signed singlets that were won by Erik Webster and Lanka Burgess.
The strong performances exhibited by local teams in the tournament sets the scene for an exciting Junior program and social competition this season.
The Fun Night is Thursday February 2, 7:30 pm and is open to all at Splash Leongatha.
A Grade and B Grade competition begins February 9.
Junior training also begins on 9 February at 6 pm. Open club training begins February 1, at 7 pm and is open to current and new players.
New players, of all levels of experience, are welcome.
Follow the club on Facebook and Instagram (South Gippsland Volleyball).
Contact Secretary Jess Sanders 0447 262 522 or email southgippslandvolleyball@outlook.com for information.
The tournament was sponsored by Nagels Pharmacy, Sports First, South Gippsland Volleyball Club and Volleyball Victoria.