Peers give pair top marks

By Tania Martin
LUKE Hill and Ashlee Hallas are at the top of their game.
The Monbulk College volleyballers were voted as the most valuable players’ (MVPs) for their age group out of the best in the country.
This follows a successful run at last year’s Australian Schools Cup.
Hill said it was a great honour to be named an MVP.
He said the award was voted by both coaches and players.
“It means a lot to be voted by your peers,” Hill said.
Monbulk College also scored top marks, ranking third in Australia, which was a major coup as the other schools all boasted top volleyball programs.
Head coach Craig Smith said the other school all had a dedicated curriculum to the sport whereas at Monbulk it’s an extra-curricular activity.
“We were the only government school to win,” he said.
“Our students have to train before school at 7am … our staff also volunteer extra time and hours for the kids to get to this level.”
Smith said the school came in at number seven in 2007 and had been aiming for the top 10.
But he never expected the school would take out third spot.
Smith said these were the best results the school had recorded.
He said before making the nationals the students had to make it into the top three in the state.
“It’s also the first time we have had six teams at this level,” he said.
“I didn’t think we would score that high … it’s a fantastic result.”
Smith hopes the school can do even better this year.