Warrnambool volleyballer Gabby Lougheed going for gold at under 17 national championships

Now, the Warrnambool teenager is chasing a second after making a Victorian under 17 side.

She will represent Victoria West at the Australian Junior Volleyball Championships on the Gold Coast in September.

Her selection follows her silver medal-winning performance at under 15 level last year.

Lougheed, 14, said she was rapt to make one of the three Victorian teams, particularly as a bottom-age prospect.

The South West Pirates middle blocker is one of 10 players in the West side, which is made up predominately of Bendigo-based teenagers.

“There was a few trials that we attended and there were cuts each week,” she said.

“It is really fun and all the girls on the team are great.

“It’s a really big opportunity to really develop my skills I think.

“It would be great to get another medal.”

Lougheed, who attends Emmanuel College, said it took commitment to make it at state level.

She is expecting the jump in age group to be challenging.

But she is familar with the courts with the tournament to take place at the 2018 Commonwealth Games facility again.

She credited her parents for driving to her to countless training sessions and the help of those at Warrnambool Volleyball Association for making her dream come true.

“It takes a lot of training and practice and a lot of different skills,” Lougheed said of playing middle blocker.

South West Pirates will send senior men’s and women’s teams to Horsham for the three-day Victorian country volleyball championships on the June long weekend.

The representative sides will train at Warrnambool stadium on Sunday in preparation for the annual tournament.