Australia's best young volleyballers experienced the sights and sounds of Bunbury during Volley By The Bay 2019, held from April 13 to 18 at Koombana Bay.
Once again, Bunbury played host to the Australian Under 23 Beach Volleyball Championships and the Australian Junior Beach Volleyball Championships.
Queensland duo Brianna and Kayla Mears took out the U23 Female title with a resounding 21-17, 21-10 win over fellow Queenslanders Annelies Jones and Alisha Stevens.
Brianna and Kayla claimed yet another title after defeating Chelsea Doyle and Leticia Giancola (South Australia) in the Australian Junior Championships - U17 Female grand final - 17-21, 21-10, 15-4.
Western Australia's Caleb Lampard and Ky Landers beat Ryan Penno and Dylan Phillips (also WA) in the U23 Male decider - 19-21, 21-11, 15-9.
The Australian Junior Championships - U15 Female division saw Monique Jones, Ruby Lonsdale, and Kaitlin Watson (Qld) take down Natasha Neilson, Kayla Stevens, and Lily Strati (also Qld) - 21-12, 21-10.
New South Wales's Kynan Leong, Harley Sinclair, and Benjamin Schickinger claimed a 21-18, 21-16 victory over Danyl Mathews, Sebastian Northmore, and Jozua McMeekin (WA) in the U15 Male division.
U16 Female volleyballers Stefanie Fejes and Jesse Mann (NSW) celebrated a 16-21, 25-23, 15-6 win over Caitlin Whincup and Elizabeth Alchin (WA).
Taliesin Drake and Jeremy McAvoy (Qld) secured the U16 Male title with a 21-17, 21-18 result against Victoria's Oliver Diano and Jason Fernandes.
In the U17 Male division, Jordan Cox and Thomas Goody (Qld) clinched a 23-21, 21-17 win over Billy Greber and Max Johnson (also Qld).
Jones and Stevens took out the U18 Female title with a 21-11, 21-7 triumph over Allysha Sims and Bailee Kendall (SA), before U18 Male competitors Ben Booth and Ethan Waigh (Qld) earned a 21-18, 21-9 win over Ethan Hill and Chaz Pucko (also Qld).
Kyla Sanchez and Jasmine Serra (WA) eclipsed Lauren Taylor and Nicola Gregory (Vic) in the U19 Female division, while U19 Male volleyballers Blake Kuipers and Mitchell McCombe (Vic) defeated Jefferson Morrow and Elijah Tabuarua (Qld) - 21-18, 18-21, 15-10.
"It is an event that has captured the hearts and minds of players, parents, coaches, and officials," Volleyball Australia events director Phil Muller said.
"It has exceeded our expectations of how a national junior event can be run. Volleyball WA has raised the bar in terms of set-up, venue, and engagement with the community.
"It's a wholesome program that will become the blueprint we'll use going forward."
Volleyball WA chief executive officer Robyn Kuhl thanked the teams, sponsors, and City of Bunbury for their efforts in bringing both tournaments to life.
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