Reds Volleyball Club hosted the inaugural WAVL Regional Round earlier this month, as part of the Great Southern Volley Mania, when Reds faced UWA at the Albany Leisure and Aquatic Centre (ALAC).
Regional Round: Players, Coaches and Administrators from Perth Reds VA, Reds VC, UWA VC, Albany VA and Denmark VC joined together for the first WAVL Regional Round. Photo Credit: SWB Photography.
Regional Round saw UWA take out the State League Men match-up, defeating Reds in straight sets, before Reds overcame a first set loss to come away with a 3-1 victory in the State League Women clash. The State League round was the showcase event in a week-long series of indoor volleyball activities in the Great Southern that included a Volleyball WA Coaching Discussion, Volleyball WA School Clinics, Reds Junior & Senior Development Clinics and Specialist Skill Clinics.
Perth Reds Director of Volleyball Max Wason who grew up in Albany was amazed by the number of people who flocked to ALAC for Regional Round and throughout the week at the different sessions.
“It was an incredible week that included great engagement in the school and community clinics, as well as a wonderful crowd for the State League fixtures. It was great to see so many volleyball enthusiasts get behind Regional Round and we loved seeing plenty of new faces engage in our sport as a participant or spectator for the first time,” Wason said.
“We are incredibly grateful for the support provided by Volleyball WA, the local clubs in Albany and Denmark, and for our Reds and UWA teams for getting behind the event. It was great to see so many parties come together, united behind growing the sport in the Great Southern,” Wason added.
Swinging Big: Jolie Du Plessis hits for Reds. Photo Credit: SWB Photography.
Reds State League setter and Albany product Ryan Slater said that it was incredible to see how volleyball is taking off in the region.
“I have seen a massive growth in volleyball in the Great Southern. Just the overall involvement, there’s so many more kids playing, school teams have so many more players playing so there’s been a massive improvement in the last five years,” Slater said.
“When you see that and you understand that the level is different and the way people play volleyball is different, so seeing that with your own eyes is massive for inspiring kids to work harder,” Slater added.
Reds Albany Players and Coaches: Max Wason, Rielly Vincent, Ryan Slater and Lachlan Butler. Photo Credit: Laurie Benson
Regional Round was delivered by Reds Volleyball Club and was supported by Perth Reds Volleyball Association, Volleyball WA, Albany Volleyball Association, Denmark Volleyball Club and UWA Volleyball Club. Reds Volleyball Club thanks all parties for their significant investment and support in the delivery of Regional Round as part of Great Southern Volley Mania.
The Great Southern Volley Mania continues with a Volleyball WA Level 2 Referee Course on Saturday 22 June and a Volleyball WA Level 2 Coach Course on Sunday 30 June.