Emmanuel College students (from left) Skye Billings, Angela Meade and Rachel Dobson will play in the Victorian schools netball championships today.
THREE Emmanuel College students will team up in the Netball Victoria schools championships today before playing for their respective clubs in the Hampden league grand final on Saturday.
Skye Billings and Angela Meade will line up for North Warrnambool Eagles in the 17 and under grand final, while Rachel Dobson will play for Koroit in the A grade final.
But first the trio is eyeing state success.
Chelsea Swarbrick, Sarah Moroney, Mikaela Gleeson, Britt Hyland, Ebony Stacey and Genevieve O’Connor will also represent Emmanuel College at the schools championships in Melbourne.
Jordyn Billings and Ruby Wilson will miss with school commitments.
Emmanuel College senior netball coach Leah Kermeen said the team was committed and ready for the challenge.
“All of these girls have combined school netball with Hampden commitments over the past month and, despite not training together, are a very strong, versatile and experienced team,” Kermeen said.
“They are a pleasure to coach due to their high level of skills and professionalism they take into each game.”
Kermeen believes fast starts are the key to success.
She said the schools championships was one of the largest netball tournaments in Australia and attracted government, Catholic and independent school sides. Sixteen teams from across Victoria made the state finals after topping their respective round-robin competitions.
Kermeen said Emmanuel College expected to perform well.
“It would be anticipated that we make the semi-finals, but in such a cut-throat format during the round-robin rounds of two times nine-minute halves, a slow start could be the difference between a win and a loss and you can’t afford to drop one game,” she said.
“It’s so important to finish on top of your pool to progress to finals.”
Emmanuel College was crowned runner-up in the School Sport Victoria netball state final at Waverley Netball Centre last week.
This was achieved through a similar pathway to the schools championships format of qualifying rounds, regional rounds and a finals day.
Williamstown College, which hosted a handful of state players and has not been defeated for six years, won the state title.
justine.mc@standard.fairfax.com.au
