04/02/03

State League News

VVL Update - Round 2

All senior teams are now on their way, with division 2 teams playing their first matches.  The Honours Men continued their impressive start to the season, with their second straight sets win over East Side Hawks.  Next match is against last years winners Falcons, which should be an entertaining contest.  The Honours Women weren't able to keep up last weeks form, going down to a strong East Side Hawks team in three.  They will be looking for a win next week to keep them in touch with the top group of teams.  The Division 1 men found it tough playing the Heidelberg serve, with passing form down on what it should be.  Still many new faces in a team that can only get better.  Like the men, the Division 1 women lost to Heidelberg in straight sets.  Though the score line doesn't suggest it, the match was a close battle.  Their next match is against ladder leaders Camberwell Cobras.  It was a good start by the Monash Division 2 teams, with three out of the four teams winning.  Both men's teams won, including the Monash (Mazenod) team, which one its first game in a close five set match.  The women's division ended up with one win one lost.

VVL Update - Round 1

An exciting start to the State League season for Monash University with three out of the four teams winning.  The first match was played by the Men's Honours team against Yarra Ranges.  It was a tough game for Yarra, who struggled to attack past the Monash Block, led superbly by Neil and Dan in the middle.  Micah again dominated from outside, with good support from the rest of the team.  The Women's Honours team was equally impressive against USC Lion Victoria, taking the match in straight sets.  The team simply played faultless volleyball and as a reward start the season on top of the ladder.  The Division 1 men played their first match against the newest team of the competition, Dandenong Cossacks.  The Monash boys, a vastly different team from last year, struggled to contain the Cossacks, going down in straight sets.  Plenty to work for coach Sammy to do as he attempts to break through for their first win of the season.  Like the men, the Division 1 women was made up of many new faces as well.  It was a great start to the season for the girls, losing just one set to the highly regarded East Side Hawks.

Monash Juniors Up and Running

The Monash Junior boys have begun training recently, as they prepare to enter the second year of Junior State League. Monash are looking to enter three teams into the competition held at Springers Stadium on Saturday mornings.  They will mainly consist of players from Mazenod College and Glen Waverley Secondary School.  A forth team, from Luther College, will be entered to play on Friday nights in Kew.  The girls will being training in the next few weeks, as they look to put two teams into the competition.  Both boys and girls are looking to top last years placing of forth, and from what's been seen so far, it looks certainly possible.

Pre-Season Training

Monash has begun its 2003 volleyball campaign in earnest.  This is in preparation for the Victorian State League and the National League Seasons.  Training takes place twice a week including a large fitness component, which is undertaken by the entire squad.  The turnout to these trainings has been very high considering the holiday season, which indicates the dedication to the cause.

As part of the pre-season training, country tournaments such as Wangaratta and Warrnambool are on the agenda, as well as a practise match against the Australian mens team.

                                                               2002

Monash MVP Results

Monash boasts having nine players who received a MVP nomination.  Well done to all who were nominated, and congratulations to Bruno, Belinda and Gennadiy for being awarded Most Valuable Player in their division.

VVL Update - Grand Finals

Well... after 20 weeks of competition, two teams survived to reach the Grand Final, the Men's and Women's Division 2 teams.  In the men's game against East Side Hawks, the boys seemed set for a well deserved victory.  They took the first two sets, with players like Ed, Rob and Kenny dominating from the outside, and Andy acting as a wall in the Middle.  Unfortunately for the boys, they weren't able to reproduce the same intensity in the next two sets, both going the Hawks way.  The last set saw both teams take and lose the lead in what became a seesawing match.  Monash weren't able to hold on, losing the fifth set (14-16) in a close finish.  The women played VIS in the other Grand Final, and after a shaky start (11-25), the girls started to play some good volleyball to keep themselves in the match, but in the end were outplayed by their younger opponents, losing in three sets.

VVL Update - Preliminary Finals

Four Monash teams started the second week of finals... two remain for a crack at the premiership, after another entertaining (and long) weekend of volleyball.  First up were the men's and women's Div 2 teams.  The men's team overcame a determined younger opposition in Mornington, coming from behind to snatch a thrilling five set win.  The women's team won in more of a controlled fashion, knocking out Falcons in 4 sets.  It was once again a strong performance from all players, with aggressive serving and consistent spiking, they were able to set up a grand final clash with the minor premiers, VIS.  Not so great news with the Div 1 teams, both being knocked out in upset loses.  The men weren't able to click on like they have done throughout the year, taking only one set of Heidelberg.  It wasn't all bad news, with a few young players starring, there is plenty to look forward to next year.  Like the men, the women were also bundled out in an upset win to Falcons.  This five set match was a rollercoaster with neither team able to take the upper hand until the dying moments of the fifth set, when fatigue started to effect some of the Monash players.  Next week will feature both of the Monash Div 2 teams in the Grand Final.

VVL Update - Semi Finals

The first week of finals have concluded, with mixed results coming out.  After finishing the season in first position, both the Div 1 & 2 men lost in tough 4 set matches to East Side Hawks, meaning that the prelims are back in for both teams in order to make the grand final.  The second Div 2 men's team faced Mornington in an elimination final.  Playing with their season on the line, a high quality match was played out.  Unfortunately Monash couldn't maintain the same level of consistency as in the match, losing the 5 set battle.  Moving on to a brighter note, the women of Monash did us proud, with both the Div 1 & 2 women winning.  The Div 1 girls defeated a competitive Cook Islands team in 5 sets, while the 2's slaughtered Camberwell in a good all round performance.  Monash's junior campaign came to an end this weekend with both boys and girls losing in straight sets.  In next weeks prelims, Monash have four teams competing, men's and women's Div 1 & 2.  Should be a good week of volleyball.

VVL Update - Round 18

The end of the 2002 State League season has come, with the finals on their way.  After finishing 2001 with all 6 teams in the finals, Monash University have once again been very successful, with 7 of the 10 teams (including the junior teams) reaching the finals.  Unfortunately, both of the honours teams have missed out on finishing top 4, but have shown enough throughout the year to give the club and supporters plenty to look forward to for the upcoming season.  The division 1 men ended the season by defeating the 2nd place Hawks in a highly entertaining 5 set match, to finish in 1st place and maybe become back to back champions.  The division 1 women are in the similar position of possible back to back titles, after finishing the season in third place.  This year Monash entered two division 2 mens teams which resulted with success.  The first team is currently in first place and are looking to go one step further than last years second, while the second team are in third and may cause an all Monash final.  The women, who started on fire with five successive wins, are starting to regain their form (as well as a full team) and have finished in forth place.  This year, VVL introduced a new competition for the juniors, which is played every Saturday morning before the seniors play.  As a result, Monash entered three teams, of which two made the top 4.