The 2016 Volleyball Victoria Grand Finals were held at the State Volleyball Centre on Saturday 20 August, with some extremely entertaining volleyball played.
After losing the first set, Heidelberg Coach Shannon Winzer must have got the response she was after from her troops with Heidelberg coming back to defeat Victoria Uni in a trilling encounter for the Premier Women's title in front of a big crowd at the SVC.
It was a well rounded performance from the team however Carly May (Heidelberg) was singled out as the best on court and awarded the 2016 Grand Final MVP award and match ball by VVI General Manager Geoff Rietschel.
Victoria Uni cut a shattered figure after just falling agonisingly short of Grand Final glory for a third consecutive year, team Captain Louise Bates vowing the team would work hard and come back bigger and better in 2017.
The Premier Men's Grand Final followed the women's match and was equally entertaining as Monash Uni went on to defeat Southern Cross Cobras 3-1. It was a second consecutive Grand Final appearance for Monash Uni who were looking for a better result than the Grand Final loss they suffered to Yarra Ranges in 2015.
Monash Uni (undefeated in 12 matches) started the match strongly, taking the first and second sets whilst being challenged by a threatening Cobras front court. Cobras rallied in the second and took the third before Monash Uni took the fourth and the match to extend their winning streak to 13 matches and claiming the 2016 Premier Men Championship. Dennis Dal Santo (Monash Uni) was awarded Grand Final MVP for best on court.
Special mention goes to athletes from the 2016 Victorian U15 State Teams who assumed ball kid duties and presented medals to the Premier divisions.
Missed the action? Watch full replays of the Premier Grand Finals HERE
In the Junior Girls, Yarra Ranges defeated Eastside Hawks in straight sets for the Championship in front of a big crowd on Centre Court. Yarra Ranges Captain Lily Conder was awarded Grand Final MVP.
The entralling contest excited the crowd and demonstrated that the Juniors divisions has an extremely bright future within the State League.
In other results, Monash Uni claimed their fifth consecutive championship in the Reserves Men after defeating gallant second year club Mazenod. Bluebelles finished off their undefeated season with the Division 2 Women's title over Melbourne Uni Renegades, whilst the Renegades went on to claim the Reserves Women and Division 3 Men's titles and Yarra Ranges added to the cabinet with the Division 3 Women's Championship.
Grand Final Match Day Program - click here
Congratulations to Monash University Volleyball Club who were awarded the Tomas Santamaria Shield as the most successful club.
Tomas Santamaria Shield (Top 3):
1. Monash Uni (51 points)
2. Melbourne Uni Renegades (35 points)
3. Yarra Ranges (26 points)
Full Grand Final Results:
Premier Men - Monash Uni def. Southern Cross Cobras 3-1 (WATCH REPLAY HERE)
Premier Women - Heidelberg def. Victoria Uni 3-1 (WATCH REPLAY HERE
Junior Girls - Yarra Ranges def. Eastside Hawks 3-0
Reserves Men - Monash Uni def. Mazenod 3-1
Reserves Women - Melbourne Uni Renegades def. Monash Uni 3-0
Division 2 Men - Monash Uni 1 def. Eastside Hawks Blue 3-0
Division 2 Women - Bluebelles def. Melbourne Uni Renegades
Division 3 Men - Melbourne Uni Renegades def. Monash Uni 3-2
Division 3 Women - Yarra Ranges def. Melbourne Uni Renegades 3-1
Grand Final MVP's:
Premier Men - Dennis Dal Santo (Monash Uni)
Premier Women - Carly May (Heidelberg)
Junior Girls - Lily Conder (Yarra Ranges)
Reserves Men - Toby Hallas (Monash Uni)
Reserves Women - Rochelle Sison (Melb Uni Renegades)
Division 2 Men - Andrea Comella (Monash Uni)
Division 2 Women - Maree Lyne (Bluebelles)
Division 3 Men - Noah Van Gemst (Melb Uni Renegades)
Division 3 Women - Eliza Spinks (Yarra Ranges)
Last Modified on 22/08/2016 10:19
