Volleyball
Volleyball at St Mary's College: CSSA summer teams Years 7–12 training Thursday 3:30–5:00pm in the Hall, Term 3 pre-season and CSSA Volleyball Cup, Term 4 2026 draw, coaches, selection, what to bring and Junior Friday volleyball.
Volleyball is a CSSA summer sport (Term 4 and Term 1) at St Mary's, with Thursday training running all year in the Mary MacKillop Hall. In Term 3 the squad trains for the CSSA Volleyball Cup one-day tournament and prepares for the summer season, which starts in the first week of Term 4. Years 3–6 play NDPSA volleyball (modified "Spikezone" rules) on Friday afternoons in the summer season.
Who can play
- Senior (Years 7–12): boys' and girls' divisions at Junior (Years 7–8), Intermediate (Years 9–10) and Senior (Years 11–12) levels. Year 12 students play in Term 4 up to their last day (Friday 23 October 2026).
- Junior (Years 3–6): NDPSA Friday volleyball, Terms 4 and 1.
Season
- CSSA Summer season: Term 4 2026 (Round 1 Wednesday 7 October 2026) and Term 1 2027 (finals Wednesday 24 March 2027).
- Term 3: pre-season training and the CSSA Volleyball Cup, Thursday 3 September 2026, at the State Volleyball Centre, Dandenong (Senior and Intermediate squads; bus departs 7:45am, returns 4:30pm; permission form on the Portal).
Training
| Day | Time | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| Thursday | 3:30–5:00pm | Mary MacKillop Hall (2 courts) |
All squads train together; Junior (Years 7–8) finish at 4:45pm. The Hall is unavailable on Thursday 10 September 2026 (Spring Concert set-up) — training moves to the Sports Centre Court 3 that week.
Coaches and team structure
| Team | Year levels | Coach |
|---|---|---|
| Senior A Boys, Senior A Girls | Years 11–12 | Mr Minh Tran (Head Coach, Volleyball Victoria Level 1) |
| Senior B Mixed | Years 11–12 | Ms Lucy Farrell |
| Intermediate Boys, Intermediate Girls | Years 9–10 | Ms Lucy Farrell, Mr Sam Devlin |
| Junior Boys, Junior Girls | Years 7–8 | Mr Minh Tran, Ms Hannah Kim |
Remaining Term 3 2026
There are no CSSA Wednesday volleyball rounds in Term 3 — Wednesday afternoons are winter sport. Volleyball students play a winter sport or a non-team activity on Wednesdays (see CSSA Wednesday Sport). Term 3 volleyball dates:
| Date | Event | Venue | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thursday 27 August 2026 | Pre-season training (Cup squad named) | Hall | 3:30–5:00pm |
| Thursday 3 September 2026 | CSSA Volleyball Cup (Senior & Inter) | State Volleyball Centre, Dandenong | Depart 7:45am, return 4:30pm |
| Thursday 10 September 2026 | Training | Sports Centre Court 3 | 3:30–5:00pm |
| Thursday 17 September 2026 | Final Term 3 session, Term 4 teams announced | Hall | 3:30–5:00pm |
Term 4 2026 fixtures — CSSA Wednesday (1:20–3:25pm)
Home games are in the Hall (start 1:50pm, best of three sets). Away buses leave the Senior gate at 1:20pm; away games start 2:00pm.
| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Round 1 | Wednesday 7 October 2026 | Sacred Heart College | Home — Hall |
| Round 2 | Wednesday 14 October 2026 | Aquinas College | Away — Kingsley Park |
| Round 3 | Wednesday 21 October 2026 | Marian College | Home — Hall |
| Round 4 | Wednesday 28 October 2026 | Loyola College | Away — Ferntree Rise |
| Round 5 | Wednesday 4 November 2026 | St Bede's College | Home — Hall |
| Round 6 | Wednesday 11 November 2026 | Emmaus College | Away — Greenhaven |
| Round 7 | Wednesday 18 November 2026 | Sacred Heart College | Away — Millbrook |
| Round 8 | Wednesday 25 November 2026 | Aquinas College | Home — Hall |
The season continues in Term 1 2027 with Rounds 9–12 and finals. There are no Saturday fixtures for volleyball.
What to bring
- Sport uniform to school on Wednesdays (Term 4); numbered playing shirt is issued
- Non-marking indoor shoes; knee pads strongly recommended (Uniform Shop, $22)
- Drink bottle; hair tied back; no jewellery
Wet weather
Volleyball is indoors. Rounds are cancelled only on days of 35°C forecast at 9:00am or Total Fire Ban (because of bus travel), with a Parent Portal notice by 12:30pm Wednesday. Training is not affected by weather.
Selection
Open squad in Term 3 — anyone may train. Team grading for Term 4 takes place at the last two Thursday sessions of Term 3 and teams are announced Thursday 17 September 2026. Everyone who trains is placed in a team.
Cost
Nil for the season. The CSSA Volleyball Cup has no entry fee; students bring their own lunch or $10 for the venue canteen.
Junior (Years 3–6) Friday interschool volleyball
NDPSA volleyball ("Spikezone", lower net, catch-and-throw for Years 3–4) is a summer Friday sport, 1:30–3:00pm in Terms 4 and 1. Teams: Year 3/4 Mixed, Year 5/6 Mixed A and B. Coach: Mrs Karen Fitzgerald. Term 4 Round 1 is Friday 9 October 2026 (home, Hall). Allocations for summer sport are confirmed on the Portal in the last week of Term 3. See Friday Interschool Sport; contact Mr Daniel Ruiz, juniorsport@stmaryswc.vic.edu.au.
Contact
Mr Luke Ferraro, Director of Sport — sport@stmaryswc.vic.edu.au — (03) 9555 0100.