Young champs hit the nationals

By Marc McGowan
EMERALD pair Dylan Arnold and Josh Fidanza are preparing to go into battle for their state for the first time at next month’s Australian Under-15 Volleyball Championships.
The Year 8 Monbulk College students earned their spots for the Albury tournament through trials at the State Volleyball Centre in Dandenong North last month.
The school has a proud volleyball tradition and was well represented in this year’s under-15 squads.
Victorian selectors named four boys – Arnold, Fidanza and Josh and Jay Rankin – and three girls – Teagan Faull, Alison Youlten and Devon Morgan – across the six state sides.
Arnold, 13, and Fidanza, 13, made the under-15 boys’ blue team – the top squad – alongside Josh Rankin.
Volleyball Team Australia talent scouts also ‘identified’ Arnold last December, putting him in contention for elite training camps and possible national selection.
Both teenagers only started the sport halfway through last year and were part of the Monbulk College under-14 team that finished runner-up at the Australian Volleyball Schools Cup.
Arnold admitted his rapid rise in the game has taken him by surprise.
“The school is really big on volleyball and they were doing it in P.E. so I thought I’d give it a try,” he said.
“I love pretty much everything about it, especially spiking.”
Fidanza was equally chuffed with his selection and hopes he can do his bit for the state side.
“It’s amazing. There are heaps of people going for it,” he said.
“It’s good just being able to hang out with your friends, have fun and play sport.”
The duo has enjoyed plenty of success together on the sporting field.
They met through Emerald Junior Football Club and have won three straight Dandenong Ranges Junior Football League premierships from under-11s to under-13s.
Basketball is also a shared passion of Arnold’s and Fidanza’s, while the former also competes in athletics.
But volleyball is their main focus for now as they ramp up for the Australian Under-15 Volleyball Championships from 14 to 17 April.
“Victoria is supposedly the best state, but I don’t know because I haven’t really seen the other teams,” Arnold said.
“I knew a couple of my team-mates from our school or from playing them through the tournament (Australian Volleyball Schools Cup) last year.
“We don’t talk that much (on the court) though because we’re a bit nervous about playing for our state.
“Hopefully we can win the tournament.”