Best of the rest revealed: Junior Schools Cup volleyball attracts top stars to the Gold Coast

Discover the top 30 stars from the 2023 Volleyball Qld Junior Schools Cup who shape as the future champions of the sport. Full list and details here

The annual Junior Schools Cup has concluded for 2023, with teams from across the state making their journey home after three days of intense competition.

With such a high calibre of athletes on show, we reveal the top 30 division one and honours stars who took to court.

KELVIN GROVE

Junior Schools Cup volleyball 2023. Pic: Rogue Gun Photography

Samuel Chau

Year 8 boys honours

Outside

Junior Schools Cup volleyball 2023. Pic: Rogue Gun Photography

Hudson Symes

Year 8 boys honours

Oppo

Junior Schools Cup volleyball 2023. Pic: Rogue Gun Photography

Oliver Morgan

Year 8 boys honours

Outside

All three boys are well beyond their years when it comes to the basics. They pass well, making for an easy three touches, and attack aggressively to earn the point. Not to mention, the trio are consistent - which is hard to come by at such a young age. With KG’s extensive program, these stars already have a few years of experience with a bright future in the sport.

Junior Schools Cup volleyball 2023. Pic: Rogue Gun Photography

Thimathi Pathirannahalage

Year 7 girls division 1

Pass hit

Her dad played for the Sri Lankan national volleyball team, and now Thimathi is exhibiting the same skills. Despite being in her first year of the sport, this young powerhouse boasts a powerful spike.

Kate Dunkley

Year 7 girls division 1

All-rounder

Dunkley’s older sister Grace was a volleyball talent, and Kate is ready to follow in those footsteps. While she is still developing her skills and hasn't quite found her position, we expect Dunkley to be make some major breakthroughs over the next 12 months.

THE GAP

Gabriel Gehrke

Year 8 boys honours

Pass hit

Gehrke is a key front court attacker in all positions with a good swing. He plays smart and will take the challenge at all opportunities. One of Gehrke’s top skills is his ability to fix bad pass or set.

Brody McLeod

Year 8 boys honours

Pass hit

Captain of the Gap side, McLeod is a huge driver for positivity on court and sportsmanship. He is a consistent performer, and despite being a shorter attacker, he understands exactly how to play against tall blockers.

Junior Schools Cup volleyball 2023. Pic: Rogue Gun Photography

Joshua Watson

Year 8 boys honours

Middle

Watson has played for less than six months but is already one of the top two middle for his team. He has demonstrated an ability to play just as well as his peers with years of experience. Watson is tall and knows he needs to play across the net. The young star is good at decision making during unusual situations at the net, which any volleyballer would know is a hard skill to execute.

CALOUNDRA

Sam McClymont

Year 8 boys honours

Middle

McClymont is tall with a fast arm and good swing. He too is only in his second year of playing.

Cooper Joyce

Year 8 boys honours

Setter

Joyce is another tall and agile setter who offers good hands and consistent sets to all hitting options.

Junior Schools Cup volleyball 2023. Pic: Rogue Gun Photography

Zac Penny

Year 8 boys honours

Middle/ pass hit

Penny can be described in three short words: tall, agile and powerful. He is a standout and can switch between middle and pass hit.

Josh Francis

Year 8 boys honours

Libero

Francis is an all-in player. He goes for every ball and puts his body on the line without hesitation. With a small build, this agile star is suited for the lib role is knows exactly what to do under pressure.

CLEVELAND

Lucy Canning

Year 8 girls honours

Setter

Canning offers clean movement to get to second ball and has exceptional hands. She is agile and gets the job done.

Talia Rizk

Year 8 girls honours

Middle

Rizk has only been playing for three months, but has boasted a quick climb in skills. She is a skilled front court attacker and is learning the ropes in defence.

BENOWA

Geoffrey Viney

Year 7 boys division 1

All-rounder

Viney is a natural game reader. He is coachable, athletic and has that ‘never give up’ attitude every coach loves.

Junior Schools Cup volleyball 2023. Pic: Rogue Gun Photography

Lennox Ngauamo

Year 7 boys division 1

All-rounder

Ngauamo is another athletic player in Benowa’s junior ranks. He knows his job no matter what role he plays, and gives every point 100%.

Summer Bailey

Year 7 girls division 1

All-rounder

Bailey is a smart and patient volleyballer with talent above her years. She is highly coachable and aggressive in the front court, the recipe for a perfect team player.

Bettina Czegledi

Year 7 girls division 1

All-rounder

Her volleyball IQ is above her years. Czegledi is a coachable, aggressive front court player and a great leader on court. Her teammates look up to her.

Archie Atkinson

Year 8 boys honours

Outside/ pass hit

Atkinson is a cross-code talent. He is arguably the Australian Rules player on the Gold Coast for his age, and many of skills have transferred to the court: communication, tenacity, vertical and agility.

Ethan Steadman

Year 8 boys honours

Pass hit

Steadman’s volleyball IQ is hard to miss. He boasts athleticism and is highly coachable which is a huge bonus. His skills are raw but the young gun has already proven to be a quick learner.

Junior Schools Cup volleyball 2023. Pic: Rogue Gun Photography

Anna Bykova

Year 8 girls honours

Middle

Bykova is a tall, athletic player and natural leader for the Benowa side. She has the whole skill package at a young age and will only get better.

Junior Schools Cup volleyball 2023. Pic: Rogue Gun Photography

Pearl Kendall

Year 8 girls honours

Libero

A small and mobile lib with uncanny skills when it comes to reading the play. She is well and truly at a level beyond her years, which is exciting for both herself and the Benowa volleyball program.

CRAIGSLEA

Junior Schools Cup volleyball 2023. Pic: Rogue Gun Photography

Matthew Marshall

Year 8 boys honours

Libero

Marshall runs the team well and has a positive attitude. He is a vocal leader with energy to burn.

Liam Nolan

Year 8 boys honours

Setter/ oppo

Nolan is unique in the fact he can play both setter and oppo at equal ability - not a skill many young players can say. He has great hands and is fantastic hitter which makes him versatile.

Moses Man

Year 8 boys honours

Pass hit

Man is new to the game, but is a dynamic and athletic player. JSC is his first major comp, but certainly won’t be his last.

Archie Mellor

Year 8 boys honours

Setter

Like any great setter, Mellor is a natural leader on the court and can effectively run his players. He knows his teammate’s roles just as well as his own.

Taylah Tulloch-Juleff

Year 8 girls honours

Pass hit

‘She’s just good at volleyball’ are the words from her coaching team. Tulloch-Juleff offers communication, consistency and promise as she powers through her second year of volleyball.

Junior Schools Cup volleyball 2023. Pic: Rogue Gun Photography

Sibona Beckitt

Year 8 girls honours

Middle/ oppo

Beckitt is the best blocker for her JSC age group according to the Craigslea coaching panel. She is in her second year of playing, with a height advantage that is sure to stay in her favour as she develops.

Lisa Caravello

Year 8 girls honours

Pass hit/ Libero, setter

A national judo champion, Caravello is athletic, tough on the court and boasts an incredible skill set. She was the age group MVP at the 2022 JSC for good reason.

Jewel Moss

Year 8 girls honours

Libero/ pass hit

Moss maybe new to the game but she offers a wicked serve. Her back court defence is exceptional, which is why her coaches have no problem labelling her a top player.

NAMBOUR

Freya Milne

Year 7 girls division 1

Setter

Milne boasts good hands as a young setter, is strong and always up for a fight for the point. She is nothing short of a fierce competitor.

Note: Players nominated by coaches. Contact the Gold Coast Bulletin (sport) to nominate an athlete from your school in the above divisions.