Warrnambool friends debut in home-town seaside volleyball tournament

Emmanuel College classmates Sebastian Wake, 15, Joseph Ahern, 14, and Harrison Hughes, 14, joined composite team Wallabies for the Labour Day long weekend tournament at the Arc.

They'd love to represent their home club, South West Pirates, in coming years.

South West Pirates did not field any teams in its home tournament but club member Gabby Lougheed represented Phantoms in honours - the top women's grade - and Tristan Gibbs also suited up for Phantoms in men's division two.

Wake, Ahern and Hughes said they'd been embraced by their Wallabies' teammates.

They will play in the men's division three final on Monday.

The trio all play in Warrnambool's domestic competition after taking up the sport four or five years ago.

"I played the sport at school and I had fun with it so I asked my dad if I could play and we got connected from Craig (Gibbs) and it went from then," Wake said.

Wake said his friends had different strengths on the volleyball court which complemented each other.

"Harrison is good all-round, he knows when to not smack the ball," he said.

"Joseph can smack it because he's tall." The honours finals will be played on Monday at the Arc. Austral and Renegades will vie for the men's title and Renegades and Henley Hawks Red will go head-to-head in the women's decider.

Warrnambool's Destiny Kelly will play for Phantoms in the women's division two final.

Four men's and three women's divisions entered 47th edition of the popular three-day tournament which is being played under COVID-Safe protocols.

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