FOR the first time in over fours years, the South West Pirates will field a women's side in the top flight of their annual tournament.
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Warrnambool Volleyball Association president Craig Gibbs confirmed the Pirates would return to fight for division one honours at the 45th Annual Seaside Volleyball Tournament this Labour Day long weekend.
"It's great the girls are able to step back up to the top division for first time since 2014," he said.
"We have the players on court, they've been training well and starting to gel as a unit. This tournament is a good lead-up to country championships, which is our biggest competition, in Bendigo later this year."
As well as the top-grade side, the women will feature in divisions two and three, while the men's teams will all play in the third tier.
Gabby Lougheed, who was recently picked in the Australian under 21 team, is one player to watch as she makes her debut in the women's top flight.
Gibbs confirmed 67 teams, including one from Tasmania and 16 from South Australia, would be playing across the four venues - the Arc's main court, the netball stadium and Brauer and Emmanuel colleges.
Teams will each play six games from Saturday to Sunday before finals get underway with winners to be decided on Monday.
Melbourne University Renegades will be returning with hopes of completing another division one double after its men's and women's sides claimed victory in 2018.
The Renegades' men will be vying for a three-peat, while the women are searching for back-to-back.
South Australian high school Heathfield will be the most represented on the draw with seven teams.
Gibbs said the association was proud to host one of Australia's oldest volleyball tournaments.
"For us it's a feather in our cap to have (one of) Australia's longest-running tournaments and to get around 60 teams every year," he said.
"Most teams put it as their number one competition for the year and the event pays tribute to the association by the work that gets put in by the organisers."
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Sean Hardeman
I'm a sports journalist for the Warrnambool Standard who covers a number of different sports across the south-west of Victoria. I enjoy watching cycling, surfing, football, soccer and Formula 1.
I'm a sports journalist for the Warrnambool Standard who covers a number of different sports across the south-west of Victoria. I enjoy watching cycling, surfing, football, soccer and Formula 1.
