An Outstanding Season for Boys’ Volleyball
The Firsts Boys’ Volleyball team had an outstanding 2019/2020 season!
The goal at the start of the season was to rebuild, as many of our players from the season before were from the class for 2019. Eight boys from the squad of 11 started the season as Year 9 students. They joined Josh Philip our Year 12 Captain, Josef Cowie, Year 12 (Vice-Captain) and Year 11 student Archie Taylor. This group of students were incredibly committed and trained extremely hard all year, both before and after school, to get up to the standard they are today.
Incredibly, the team went through the season with only one defeat against Yarra Valley Grammar and finished the home and away games on top of the ladder. Yarra Valley Grammar, incidentally finished 4th, meaning Ivanhoe would have a semifinal match against the only team that beat them during the season. We were, of course, favourites, but to gain the mental strength to stand up to a team who has previously beaten you is hard, to say the least. Ivanhoe’s team showed great courage and presence of mind to go through that semi-final without dropping a set, which set them up for a place in the Grand Final versus Trinity.
Sadly, Ivanhoe lost a nail-biting, marathon 5 set match to Trinity that went for over 2 hours! Even though the loss was heartbreaking, it was a great season from a young team that will have over 80 per cent of players coming back next year.
Year 12 captains Josh Philip and Josef Cowie must be congratulated for their leadership all year and their time in the Firsts Volleyball program over the last three years.
Well done to all boys involved. We are very proud of all of you.
