The Gold Coast Jewels are shining brightly on the volleyball court at this year’s Pan Pacific Masters Games (3 – 11 November) as they continued their undefeated streak in the women’s competition at St Hilda’s School today.
Boasting a strong side which includes four former Australian representatives and a handful of Queensland players the team is proving that experience wins over age.
Team manager Wendy Greening is the oldest in the team and said despite being a bit slower on the court not much has changed since their representative days.
“We’re not as fast as we used to be but the skill level is still there,” said Wendy.
“It’s great to see that they’re still all playing after 20 years and can still smash the ball.
“There are some men here in their 60s who used to referee our games when we were juniors, so to see them 10 years ahead of us and still playing gives us no reason to quit at 40 or 50.”
One of the side’s star players is former Australian volleyball and beach volleyball representative and Gold Coast local Debbie Turner (nee Marr) who said she loved the opportunity to play against and alongside former teammates in a social and competitive setting.
“Anita Sparks (teammate) was my beach volleyball partner for a few seasons and we played in Australian indoor teams for a good 10 years so it has been a lot of fun coming together and competing,” said Debbie.
“It’s also been good fun going up against them (former opposition) because we played against them so much over the years and you know them so well and know how they play.”
From the early 80s to 1993, Debbie travelled the world representing Australia and can credit her success to her family who started up volleyball in Queensland.
“My Dad (Peter Marr) originally started it all off in Queensland and built the grassroots of the sport in the state,” said Debbie.
“We would just hang out at the volleyball courts as kids and just grew up playing it from a young age.
“My brother is our coach and he has represented Australia as well, his daughter made her first appearance for the Queensland team at the age of 16.”
Opposition player Kay Bridge is a former international and said it was great catching up and going head-to-head with familiar faces such as Debbie on the court.
“It has been a lot of fun and I’ve seen a lot of old faces of people that I used to know and play against,” said Kay.
“The best part of the event is that it is so social and everyone gets to catch up because volleyball is like a big family.”
The new system was born here and filagra this is not something that we would like to see. Caverta although better in some elements but not significant for us.
