29 September 2004

Two Charles Darwin University volleyball club members are looking to go one better and take out the next NT Beach Volleyball competition this weekend following their good form at the 2004 Queensland Junior Beach Volleyball Championships held in Surfers Paradise last weekend.

Brad Thomson and Roger Jones

Brad Thomson and Roger Jones, who are the Territory’s best male junior beach volleyball pair, contested the under 23 division of the Queensland competition.

The division was split into two pools of four teams. Thomson and Jones, both 20, finished third in their pool and were ranked fifth overall after the finals.

The Queensland Junior Beach Volleyball Championships are touted as one of the best State junior beach competitions in Australia with the majority of the country’s finest being produced in the Sunshine State. Olympians, Natalie Cook and Josh Slack, both started their careers in Queensland.

”The competition was a valuable and fun learning experience. Shannon Zunker, Australian Pro Beach player, gave us heaps of tips on how to play the game better,” Mr Thomson said.

Queensland based Mr Zunker travelled to Darwin last month to compete in the 2004 Vodafone NT Beach Volleyball Championships Event where Thomson and Jones were runners-up in the Open Division.

However, the experience from last week’s Queensland Championships means the NT pair will have an improved game for Event 3 of the Vodafone NT Beach Volleyball Series being held this weekend.

“We are keen to redeem ourselves on a local standing after being edged out of the final match last time in a thrilling three-set game that went to 16-14 in the third set,” Mr Thomson declared.

Event 3 of the Vodafone NT Beach Volleyball Series will commence 1 October at DTC Sports on Bagot Road.

Players wishing to compete can download an entry form at www.volleyballnt.org.au and submit it at their nearest volleyball venue.