VOLLEYBALL Sydney University Volleyball had a year of great ups and downs in 2006. There was a loss of a number of previous board members and high level players; which was always going to affect the club’s performance this year. Our men’s teams suffered significantly with the loss of all the more experienced players forcing a withdrawal from Australian Volleyball League and Division 1 State Volleyball League which are the two highest levels of competition available. This left plenty of time and openings for recruiting and 2007 will prove a solid rebuilding year. While our men struggled in 2006, the women were able to maintain their high level of performance in all competitions with a number of good results through the year. These include; 3rd at Manly, the first tournament of the year, 5th at SVL and a very close 5th in the Australian Volleyball League. The students from the club provided strong teams for intervarsity competitions with the women winning the Eastern University Games for the second consecutive year while the men came 2nd. The women finished 4th at Australian University Games. At these events we had 3 men and 4 women gain selection in the Eastern University Games merit teams (Chris Todd, Luke Carroll, Pietro Celi, Hayley Warren, Michelle Hilditch, Phillipa Lees, and Maja Andersson). Hayley Warren and Michelle Hilditch were also awarded Green and Gold selection for their performances at Australian University Games. Our club continued to show its developing talent with Gabrielle Woodhouse selected in the U19 NSW team which won the Australian Junior Championships. Maja Andersson captained the U21 NSW team and led fellow Sydney Uni players Hayley French, Amy Uso and Anika Lalic to a silver medal. Edward Binnie was a member of the NSW U21 Men’s coaching staff that took silver. Gabrielle Woodhouse was honoured with selection in the Australian All Star Six, highlighting her as the premier setter in her age group.
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Sydney Uni Sport
2007 will see a restructure in some of the competitions for our women and as such we are working on new programs so that our students will be able to continue their strong performances and good results in the new season. CHRIS TODD President
WATERPOLO MEN Yet again the Lions had a successful year. At National League level, we received the silver medal in the Australian National League for 2005/06. In the finals (best out of three games) we lost 2-1 to Fremantle. Aaron Jones, Trent Franklin both passed the milestone of 200 National League games. Trent Franklin was the highest goal scorer in the National League, with Sam McGregor and Thomas Whalan being selected in the ‘All Star’ team. In the Sydney metropolitan competition we received the gold medal for 1st Grade. 2nd Grade (while minor premiers) received the silver medal after a penalty shootout in the grand final. We again won 7th Grade comfortably. For the eighth year running the club won the Sydney metropolitan 1st Division. Our U20 team received the bronze medal in the NSW State Championships. Our junior program is showing its strength through our representatives, Nathan Cargill and James Young, in the Australian U20 team that visited South America. Nathan, James, Ben Turner and Lachlan Hollis were selected in the NSW U20. Lachlan was also in the Australian youth team that visited Europe. Our senior representatives included Thomas Whalan, Trent Franklin, Robert Maitland, Sam McGregor and Grant Richardson. All were selected in the Australian team that competed in the World League. Outside the pool the club also had a most successful year. The club hosted the Australian National League finals, with the finals running for a full week and involving 24 teams and 360 athletes. The final function at MacLaurin Hall was outstanding.