HENDERSON College have upheld their high reputation in volleyball as a contingent of two teams reached the Victoria State Championships.
The mixed Year 9 and 10 girls team played this week whilst the year seven boys will compete later this year.
At the end of last month, the two teams travelled to Bendigo for the Regional Volleyball Championships where they both returned to Mildura triumphant in qualifying for state finals.
This feat that has been achieved by the school consecutively for the last four years.
Henderson College secondary coordinator Joel Ferry attributes success in the sport to the teachers who have helped promote and support it.
“There are quite a few teachers here who are keen on volleyball and have really helped foster their passion into the kids and now there’s a high percentage of students who play outside of school,” he said.
“It’s become our adopted school sport here which is great.”
The two Henderson College teams earnt their state finals spots in convincing fashion, but Ferry also said it was a valuable experience for the players off the volleyball court as well.
“There was just the one game for them to play but we left on the bus all together at six in the morning and it was such a good experience as well as an opportunity for them to step up and represent the school,” said Ferry.
“We always have a lot of coaches and teachers come up to us with positive comments for how our students conduct themselves, so our unified culture is very evident.”
The Year 9 and 10 girls travelled to Dandenong for their state finals matches, coming up against some of Victoria’s premier sporting schools.
They narrowly lost their first two games against Eltham High School and Wodonga Senior School, going down by less than three points in each set.
The girls then produced a valiant display to defeat Holy Trinity Lutheran Horsham in straight sets, which unfortunately wasn’t enough to progress through to the semi-finals.
“The girls still did us really proud as the ultimate hope is they enjoy experience and show our school spirit,” Ferry said.
“They have represented us so well from before the game where they like to pray and calm their nerves to the respect they show opposition.”
Henderson College’s Year 7 boys will be hoping to replicate the respectful behaviour shown by the girls’ effort, when they take part in their state finals in November.
