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
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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
Samuel Chau
Year 8 boys honours
Outside
Hudson Symes
Year 8 boys honours
Oppo
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
Originally published as Best of the rest revealed: Junior Schools Cup volleyball attracts top stars to the Gold Coast
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