MILDURA’s Brooke Symes is excited to have the chance to play on Australian volleyball’s newest stage.
The Mildura Volleyball Academy coach has been selected in the Melbourne Vipers squad for the second instalment of the Australian Volleyball Super League later this year.
Following former Mildura athlete Dylan Lucchesi, who played for the Vipers last year, Symes will aim to hit the court in the six-week tournament which takes elements of franchise competitions from other sports.
The super league was broadcast on free-to-air TV, but modifications were added including changes in scoring and “power plays” where points are doubled to make for fast-paced men’s and women’s games.
Symes, nee Freckleton, said she is looking forward to hopefully making her mark.
“As soon as I knew I had the opportunity to be part of it, I jumped at it,” she said.
“It’s also a great chance to represent Mildura as well, especially on the women’s side of things.
“Dylan did so for the boys last year and did a fantastic job and I’m just excited to get the chance to do that myself this year.
“A team of 10 will be selected from the 22-player squad each week so I obviously have to perform but I’m looking forward to giving it everything I’ve got.”
Symes, an Australian junior representative and former US college scholarship holder had initially joined in the training session during trials without any expectations of being selected.
“We had two weeks of trials in Melbourne and pretty much the Thursday before, I thought I might come down and have a training sessions as I was in the city anyway,” she said.
“I trained and was selected as a middle, a position I haven’t played since I was 15 but have now also moved into for Phantoms Womens (in the Victorian Volleyball League).
“I had a lot of fun and performed fairly well so I thought I’d better come back for the next trial, and I was lucky enough to be selected for the final 22.”
Weekly Melbourne training session during the state league season means plenty of time on the road is ahead for Symes.
The Australian Volleyball Super League will begin on September 1 with the final locked in for October 13.
