Skins tournament set to spike

AFTER two years of uncertainty and postponements Volleyball Ballarat’s annual skins tournament gets back on court this weekend.

Thirty-three teams from around the state will compete across seven divisions, including three men’s and women’s and for the first time a mixed social division.

Volleyball Ballarat president Damon Minnoti said there’s only been two regional tournaments since 2019, and this weekend will give players a chance to test themselves before the state league begins next week.

“We’ve grown our membership significantly over the last two years despite the challenges of COVID and it’s going to be the first chance for a lot of our new players to have any sort of tournament experience outside of our local competition,” he said.

“It’s a huge opportunity for them and moving it from November, when it’s traditionally been, to March has allowed us to capture some of the teams that are preparing for the state league to get underway next weekend.”

“We’ve had to take a bit of a risk in moving from where we normally are but it’s paid off.

“We’ve got 33 teams this year and hopefully that’ll be the start of continuing growth going forward.”

The skins tournament style means teams play in one-hour games with a $50 cash prize up for grabs if one team wins 25 to 12 or better. If the money isn’t claimed it jackpots for the next round.

Games will be held at the Ballarat Minerdome, Loreto College and Ballarat Grammar from 8am Saturday, with finals to be held at the Minerdome on Sunday. Entry is free.

“It’s good for the town, a lot of our teams are coming from places like Warrnambool, Mildura and Horsham as well as Melbourne so they’ll be booking accommodation and hopefully getting out and spending some money in town as well,” Minnoti said.