11 Oct 2011
30/6/2011
Our girls volleyball team have represented TRHS with true excellence this afternoon at the NSW CHS state Volleyball Grand Final. In a very difficult, and long (2 and a half hours) 5 set final thriller, we went down to Great Lakes Foster 15 - 11 in the final set. I could not have asked anymore of the team, who played so amazingly well.
The girls came through the semi this morning against Bomaderry HS in 3 good sets. All the team took the court, and the girls started to move like a 'pro team', and they were able to hold out the big hitting Bomaderry girls, with true T-Redz style - so was Paki's summary of the win.
The grand final was played on the professional show court, and Great lakes and Thomas Reddall lined up, shook hands, and started the official court warm up, with 300 audience members walking in for the big final.
Our girls won the first set 25-21, in a long point for point contest. Ava and Denese's experience helped the girls stay calm, and Moli and Sharon's commitment to they team, got the girls over the line. The 2nd set, went point for point again, with Great Lakes coming out on top 27-25. Changed ends, the reds frogs came out, sugar fix, back on court and TRHS takes the 3rd 25-23. Change again, sugar low kicks in, the Great Lakes big server comes through the rotation, and serves 4 aces. the set ties up at 25-25. After the longest rally ever (about 40 passes of the ball), Great Lakes get lucky on a line ball, and they get set point 26-25. We couldn't hold them out, and Great Lakes ties the game 2 set all!!!!!!!
It's so rare for the grand final to go to the 5th set, but here we were. The 5th set started well for us, point for point, until 8-7, then our girls who had given it their complete all, just couldn't hold out the very experienced and older Great Lakes team. We went down in the final, but EVERYONE in the whole of NSW, now knows who the Thomas Reddall girls volleyball team are!
Thomas Reddall HS are the first team from the Sydney South West area to ever make the NSW CHS state grand final, and this state schools competition has been played every year since 1972. TRHS's name will be engraved on the Steve Birt Teachers Credit Union Trophy as the 2011 Silver Medal Winners, with each of the girls, and Paki, and me winning their own silver medal, and the Runners Up trophy for the school.
The girls, Paki and myself will present the Trophy to Carol in the morning, and we will ask Carol to present the Trophy to the school at an assembly early next term.
It has been a great pleasure to experience such a huge achievement with these TRHS students. They have truly done Thomas Reddall, their families, themselves and Campbelltown very very proud. I know they were very grateful for the support of the school community, and of you all for the phone calls and email messages. (As am I Too!)
And now folks, I'm going to have a sleep - I'm completely exhausted!!!!!
Thanks again,