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Busselton Dunsborough Times
Womens elite team in action.
Camera IconWomens elite team in action. Credit: Joel G Campbell

Spectators at the Busselton Jetty foreshore were treated to a high standard of entertaining beach volleyball on the weekend.

Round five of the Alcohol. Think Again WA Beach Volleyball Tour featured 40 pairs of players from around the State.

Players were entered into two divisions, elite and competitive.

Current and past local players were successful in three of the four grand finals.

Busselton’s Gabriel Abbott, who is studying in Perth, teamed up with Daniel Piggott in the men’s elite competition.

They defeated several experienced teams in their pool and semi-final games to reach the grand final against Perth team Griffin Bateman and Chris Adams.

Abbott used his height and high reach to full advantage to stifle many of the opponents’ attacks.

He and Piggott were also active around the court and clever in their ball placement and variety of attacks.

They took out the match in two sets, 21-18 21-14.

Busselton’s Tyler Gow teamed up for the first time with Wesley Combridge in the competitive division.

A number of their play-off matches were close but the persistent pair reached the grand final against Mandurah’s Jayden Godfrey and Travis Nurse.

With the support of the local crowd, Gow and Combridge blitzed the first set, winning 21-9.

The second set was more competitive, with Godfrey and Nurse exceptional in their spike returns.

However the locals prevailed, with Gow and Combridge using their three hit plays with variety, to take the set 21-15 and win the division.

Local player Jessabby Drown partnered Perth’s Raynee Scadden in the competitive women’s division.

During the qualifying games, their standard of play picked up and the improvement led to a place in the grand final against experienced masters players, Misa Tagamori and Fiona McGowan.

The match went to three sets as the wind picked up to further test both teams and make serving a challenge.

Drown and Scadden managed to overcome their more favoured opponents in a nailbiting final set.

Final scores were 16-21 21-19 15-13

The women’s elite competition featured 16 teams in four pools.

Perth’s Jennifer Sadler and Tessa Anderson finally broke their season drought by taking out the final in two sets, 21-11 21-10 in a high-standard affair.

Busselton Volleyball Association would like to thank the Cityof Busselton, Goose Cafe Equinox, Esplanade, Yahava KwikKoffee and Mr Sushi for their support.

The locals now continue with the pairs and fours competition, with finals scheduled for late February.

Pictures:

Busselton’s Hollie Roberts digs the ball up for Jamila Stork.
Camera IconBusselton’s Hollie Roberts digs the ball up for Jamila Stork. Credit: Joel G Campbell
Busselton’s Wes Combridge spikes the ball past blocker, Mandurah’s Jayden Godfrey.
Camera IconBusselton’s Wes Combridge spikes the ball past blocker, Mandurah’s Jayden Godfrey. Credit: Joel G Campbell
Busselton’s Gabriel Abbot (yellow) reaches high in the elite grand final.
Camera IconBusselton’s Gabriel Abbot (yellow) reaches high in the elite grand final. Credit: Pictures: Joel G Campbell, Joel G Campbell
Busselton’s Jarrod Kennedy flies to retrieve a ball for Rhys Assan.
Camera IconBusselton’s Jarrod Kennedy flies to retrieve a ball for Rhys Assan. Credit: Joel G Campbell
Jessaby Drown from Busselton goes up for the spike.
Camera IconJessaby Drown from Busselton goes up for the spike. Credit: Joel G Campbell

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