Netball Allen sisters both named in SA squad for second year in a row
NETBALLERS Sienna and Nyah Allen hope to become the first sisters since Natalie and Laura von Bertouch in 2007 to play together for Australia. Their brother is also excelling in his sport.
NETBALLERS Sienna and Nyah Allen hope to become the first sisters since Natalie and Laura von Bertouch in 2007 to play together for Australia.
The Allens are heading in the right direction after being named in state teams for the second year in a row.
Sienna, 18, will represent SA in the under-19 squad and Nyah, 15, is in the under-17 team. Both will play at the junior National Netball Championships in Adelaide in April.
Nyah, a goal attack, says lining up for the Diamonds at international level alongside her sister, who is a defender, would be a dream come true.
“I’d love to play at the highest level I can, including representing Australia,” Nyah, of West Beach, says.
“I know it’s going to take a lot of hard work and sacrifice, but I’d like to continue to play against older and more experienced players to get better.” Nyah, who made her Premier League netball debut with Garville last year and also featured in the Australian under-17 team, says Sienna’s support is invaluable.
“We practise against each other and I remember training in the backyard back home in Mt Gambier or at our local club together,” she says.
Sienna was the only SA player selected in the Australian under-19 team last year.
The sisters train together at the South Australian Sports Institute and with Garville.
Sienna admires Nyah’s achievements.
“I am very proud of her, especially because she is still eligible for under-15s and she played really well at nationals last year – she shot at about 95 per cent,” Sienna says.
Sienna and Nyah are not the only ones in their family to be involved in sport at a national level.
Their brother Kai, 12, is one of SA’s hottest junior go-kart prospects.
Kai, who still lives in Mt Gambier with his parents, won the KA4 Junior Light Class race at the SA State Go-kart Cup last year.
He also triumphed in the SA Championship for KA4 Junior over three rounds.
“When I race in Adelaide, my sisters come and watch,” Kai says.
“The family encourages me a lot – Dad always tries to help me go faster and Mum comes to watch my bigger events if she’s not with the girls.”