Big win in first hit-out

By Marc McGowan
UPPER Beaconsfield schoolgirl Letitia Sindt is aiming for national selection after helping Victoria win the Australian under-15 Volleyball Championships in Albury this month.
Sindt, who turns 14 next month, was the vice-captain of the squad despite making her state representative debut at the event.
Victoria went through the 18-team tournament undefeated, beating Queensland 15-7 in the deciding fifth set in the final.
“It was really, really exciting and it was a really good feeling to be representing my state,” she said.
“I was really nervous when I first started, but at the end I was so happy and feeling really good.”
Thirteen-year-old Emerald pair Josh Fidanza and Dylan Arnold also enjoyed success at the championships, claiming a silver medal as part of the men’s Victorian under-15 side.
The team recovered from two sets down to take the match to a fifth set, but lost 15-13.
Arnold said he had an “awesome” week despite being on the wrong end of the nail-biting finish.
“Obviously, it was disappointing coming that close, but it was still pretty exciting because a silver medal in Australia is pretty good,” he said.
“To come that close after being down two sets was really good.”
Fidanza shared his school-mate’s sentiments.
“It was pretty sad that we lost, but it was still pretty good to win silver,” he said.
“It was a pretty good experience and it was fun.”
The Monbulk College students are hoping to go one better for their school this year when they tackle Victorian opposition before the Australian Volleyball Schools Cup.
Fidanza and Arnold helped their school to a runner-up finish at the latter tournament in 2008.
Sindt, a Year 8 Haileybury College student, only started volleyball 15 months ago after trying the sport at school.
She previously competed in aerobics, softball and basketball, but volleyball proved an instant hit for her.
“We have different sports each term at school and I’d never played volleyball before and, once I tried it, I loved it,” Sindt said.
“People from my school told me that I had really good potential and I should continue, so I did.
“I just love the buzz you get when you’re playing and how it’s always a challenge to learn new things and the feeling you get on court when you’re playing with all your friends.”
She plays senior and junior volleyball for Monash University and trains three times a week.
Sindt’s short-term goal is make the Australian youth squad and expects to find out in the next month whether she is successful.
“That’s what I’m really, really looking forward to,” she said.
“I also want to keep on going into (the state) under-16s, 17s, 19s and 21s and to go all the way through.
“I just want to keep on going higher and higher in standards and keep improving.”