WARRNAMBOOL’S six teams might have missed the finals action but export Sammy Sturgess gave local supporters plenty of reasons to cheer.
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The 23-year-old, who learnt the game in Warrnambool before moving to Melbourne for university and now work as an accountant, was joint winner of the men’s division two most valuable player award.
Playing with his Melbourne-based club side Blash Inc., Sturgess was a standout performer as a setter.
Several weeks ago he knew his side was light on for numbers, so he looked up two of his former Warrnambool teammates, passer/hitter Rob Bright and spiker Brad Hunt, who came out of retirement, to join him for the weekend.
Together they helped the six-man side into yesterday’s grand final before being beaten by South Adelaide as the absence of reserves took its toll. Strugess had craved a team victory but settled for the individual award.
“I’m always happy to come home,” he said.
“Over the last two years I’ve felt my setting has improved and I’m a more confident setter now.”
Sturgess used the tournament as a warm-up for state league next week with Vic Uni, which won promotion from division two to division one