Brauer College boys volleyball team heading off to state finals

The boys intermediate team of captain Brandon Gibbs, Jake Bateman, Caeden Smith, Callum Bridge, Declan Gibson, Ethan Drake and Haydn Watts, who was injured for the regional championships, will represent the school at Dandenong Volleyball Centre.

Teacher Amanda Bridges, who has coached four of the school's volleyball sides to the state finals, said she was pleased with how the team had developed in its short time together.

"This is an exceptional team effort from a group of boys who only started playing together this year," she said.

"Only one team member has played volleyball (Brandon Gibbs) before. I am extremely proud of these seven students. Hopefully they play well and win at least one game."

To get to the state tournament Brauer had to defeat Daylesford Secondary College and St Brigid's at a regional final on April 29.

The team defeated Daylesford (25-16, 25-14) and St Brigid's (25-18, 25-9) in two sets to progress through.

Gibbs, who has played volleyball outside of school for four years, said the team was excited to be challenging for a state title.

"It's going to be pretty good as we're playing against some really quality opposition so hopefully we do pretty well," the South West Pirates player said.

The competition is divided into two pools of four teams with each team playing three games. Brauer is in pool B and will need to win at least two games to progress to the crossover finals.

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