Beach Volleyball action at Inverloch

THE 30th annual Inverloch Beach Volleyball competition attracted 20 teams from Melbourne and across regional Victoria for a spectacular display of volleyball skill and healthy, fun-filled competition. 

This tournament is known as the longest continuously run beach volleyball tournament in Victoria. 

The quality of play attracted plenty of spectators along Inverloch’s stunning foreshore.  Bruised earned the top division’s Grand Final win, defeating Eastside Eagles (31:24). This was a back to back win for Bruised, a team that featured players from the Australian Volleyball League and strong supporters of the competition for many years. Congratulations to Bruised: Tom de Vries, Will Crawford, Jacob Gruis, Jack McIntosh and Locky Morland. 

The Pink division was the second division resulting from this pool. Monstars had a strong final game to win the Pink division ahead of Gas Bois (31:18). 

Congratulations to Monstars: Jacob Caarels, Ben Caarels, Alex Miller and Andrew Provan.

Despite winning almost all of their matches, Dawgz were challenged by windy conditions towards the end of the tournament. Not to be outdone by their siblings in the Pink division, the Flintstones rose to the challenge in the Grand Final and defeated Dawgz (25:16). Congratulations on an outstanding performance by the Caarel family and friends, Esther Caarels, Rebecca Caarels, Ethan Caarels and Karen Hirabayashi.  

Results in the Blue and Orange pools delivered some insanely close rankings with only a few percentage points launching teams into the Grand Final. 

After pool play, the stronger teams entered the Orange division where Red Hot Silly Peppers defeated Loshen by the Ocean (26:16). In the Blue division, Wham Bams stepped up to defeat Power (25:20). 

A Grade and B Grade competition begins February 9. 

Junior training also begins on February 9 at 6 pm. 

New players, of all levels of experience, are welcome. 

Follow the club on Facebook and Instagram (South Gippsland Volleyball). 

Contact Secretary Jess Sanders 0447 262 522 or email southgippslandvolleyball@outlook.com for information.

The tournament was sponsored by Nagels Pharmacy, Sports First, South Gippsland Volleyball Club and Volleyball Victoria.