Life’s a beach for Elka

By Russell Bennett
YOUNG Belgrave volleyballer Elka Hubbard is set to hit the international stage.
The 14-year-old Upwey High School student has made her way on to the Victorian under-17 beach volleyball side and will compete at the national titles on Perth’s Scarborough beach in January.
Hubbard had been playing indoor volleyball for two years when a friend encouraged her to come along to try out for the beach team.
“The sand and the weather conditions make beach (volleyball) so much more difficult,” she said. “And it’s just such a different dynamic because there’s two people on the court instead of six. There’s a lot more team work involved and you get a lot more time on court because you don’t get to come off.”
Hubbard made it on to the initial state squad of 15 players and then survived the cut to make the top 10.
She moved from Elwood on Victoria’s coast to Belgrave in 2008 but had never even heard of beach volleyball before settling in the hills. “I discovered the sport when we moved here and I just loved it straight away,” she said.
Hubbard still competes at the Victorian Schools Cup and the National Schools Cup as part of Upwey’s indoor team.
“Our team is really good,” she said. “Three teams – Eltham, Bilanook, and us have this big rivalry going on. But we’re like best friends. “We all know each other and we’re really competitive.”
Elka was named most valuable player of the under-15 state team in March and said she was eager to keep her involvement in both volleyball codes by trying out for the under-16 state side in February.
“But it all depends on the finances,” her mother, Wrenna, said. “Each interstate trip costs between $1500 and $2000.We paid for everything this year but we’ve applied for some grants. We asked the council and they put forward $200. They’ll only support you for $500 over two years but that’s still a great help.
Elka said if she had to choose between the two volleyball codes, she would choose beach “but they kind of complement each other”.
“I’d choose beach because I love it and the locations make me love it even more,” she said. “The beach makes it more difficult to play but it also makes it nicer.”
Elka said her goal was to play international competition in both the Olympics and world championships. “That would be my ultimate dream,” she said.
The national junior beach volleyball titles in Perth will be held on 11-13 January.