THE South Gippsland Volleyball Club women’s team claimed a well-earned silver medal in the Volleyball Victoria State League Division 3 competition, capping off an incredible season of passion, perseverance and teamwork.
The State League season, which ran from April to August, saw the South Gippy side dominate from start to finish – dropping only two games across 16 fiercely competitive rounds to finish on top of the Division 3 ladder.
Led by Captain Tamara Miller and coached by Jessica Sanders, the team entered the finals with quiet confidence and plenty of momentum.
“With strong teamwork and a focused strategy, we faced our challengers head-on and gave it our all on the court; we left nothing behind!” said Tamara.
In their first final, the team stormed to a 3–0 win over Monash University Grey, avenging one of their only losses from the regular season.
The semi-final against Eastside Hawks proved tougher – particularly in the second set, which ended in a thrilling 26–24 victory, but South Gippsland once again prevailed in straight sets, earning their shot at gold.
With the South Gippy cheer squad in full voice, the women took to the court against home side Dandenong in a tense and thrilling five-set Grand Final: Set scores: 25-17, 11-25, 25-17, 16-25, 11-15.
After trading sets and leading 8–6 at the final change, South Gippsland looked poised to clinch the title, but Dandenong found another gear to snatch the decider by four points; a narrow finish that underscored just how evenly matched the two teams were.
Despite the heartbreak of missing gold, the result marks a historic achievement for the South Gippsland Volleyball Club, showcasing the region’s emerging volleyball talent and the strength of its grassroots program.
The squad was a mix of experience and fresh faces, with first-time State League players; Poppy Noble, Amelia Hams, Yasmin Gloria, Tara Moodie and Georgia Scarce joining seasoned campaigners Liselott Webster, Sarah Damon, Charlotte Smith, Lorraine Tangpos, Jessica Sanders and Tamara Miller.
Together, they brought heart, hustle and a fierce love of the game that carried them all the way to the championship court.
South Gippsland Volleyball Club continues to prove that passion for the sport runs deep in the region – and this silver medal shines bright as a testament to what teamwork, belief and community spirit can achieve.
