07 February 2025
On Sunday 8 December 2024, a team of nine boys departed for the Gold Coast to participate in the Australian Volleyball Schools Cup (AVSC), the largest sporting event in the Southern Hemisphere. After months of intense training and preparation, the boys were keen for the week of strong competition that lay ahead.
The division the team competed in featured 16 teams, so the focus for the early games was to advance to the top 8. The boys finished the first round with a record of three wins and one loss, which was enough to secure a spot in the second round.
Between games, the team strengthened culture by spending time at the beach, playing beach volleyball and body surfing. This quality time together had a profound impact on the team’s chemistry on the court, which in turn helped improve our performance.
The second round brought high stakes, as the team needed to finish in the top two of the pool to secure a place in the semi-finals. The boys faced a tough start, losing their first game. However, they bounced back with a strong performance in the second match, keeping hopes of reaching the semi-finals alive. The third game was against a previously undefeated team, and it was a must-win scenario to advance to the final four. Rising to the occasion, the boys delivered a spectacular performance, dominating the match to win 3-0. This victory not only showcased their determination and teamwork but also saw the team finish at the top of the pool, earning a well-deserved spot in the semi-finals.
The semi-final was an intense and hard-fought match. Despite giving it their all, the boys fell short, losing 2-0. With sets played to 25 points, needing to win by two, the second set extended to a thrilling 35-37. This score truly reflects how competitive and evenly matched the game was. Though the result didn’t go our way, the boys proved they could compete on equal footing with the strongest teams in the tournament.
Ethan Howes
Volleyball Co-Captain
