DIG SET SPIKE

Penrhos is proud to announce that four of our recent graduates have earnt themselves a place in the prestigious Volleyball Australia Women’s Volleyroos team; 11 of our alumni and current students have been selected to represent Volleyball WA in the U19 and 23 National Titles; and one alumni has been selected in the Developing Australian Volleyroos Beach Program.

Australian Volleyroos: Sarah Burton (Class of 2020), Cassie Dodd (Class of 2021), Ella Schabort (Class of 2022) and Alexia Zammit (Class of 2022)

Volleyball WA U19: Charlotte Shillington (Year 11), Jolie Du Plessis (Year 11), Rosie Alchin (Year 11), Tara Jorgensen (Year 10), Ava Sutton (Year 12), Jennifer Parker (Year 12)

Volleyball WA U23: Alexia Zammit (Class of 2022), Cassie Dodd (Class of 2021), Ella Schabort (Class of 2022), Samantha Shillington (Class of 2021), Sarah Burton (Class of 2020)

Developing Australian Volleyroos Beach Program: Elizabeth Alchin (Class of 2022)

Head of Health and Physical Education and Volleyball Coach, Kenrick Armitage said:

“There are many times as a teacher and coach when you just need to stop and appreciate the joys of seeing students achieve their goals.

These accomplishments fill me with pride and reinforce my passion for girls’ education and sports. Witnessing these students reach such heights through their hard work and dedication is truly rewarding.

They have demonstrated resilience, discipline, and teamwork, both on and off the court!”

The success of Penrhos volleyball inevitably comes down to our incredible students and staff who want nothing more than to develop a love for the sport and build upon a very successful and positive culture developed by the students and staff who have come before.

Teaching the technical aspects of volleyball is only part of the goal, showing our girls from a young age that attending practices, having a hard-working and positive attitude, while being an incredible team player can build a love for the sport that is unmatched.

Ella Schabort (Class of 2022) said “Penrhos played a vital role in introducing me to volleyball, without it I would never have been down this pathway and achieved the things I have today. I was introduced to Volleyball by Mr Armitage in Junior School and when I moved into Secondary School, I began to love the sport. Mr Ruggiero encouraged me to join a development program run by Volleyball WA, while still

training at Penrhos. It led onto the WA under 15s girls’ team, and even travelling to Melbourne to play for Penrhos at the National Schools Cup.”

Having such a wide variety of opportunities to not only train and learn volleyball through school, but to also partake in major competitions on an inter-state level during Secondary School opens doors that to many they could have only dreamt of.

We asked the newest Australian Volleyroo, Alexia Zammit (Class of 2022) if she could give any advice to younger Penrhos students, and she came back with some inspiring words: “Fall in love with the process of progression and don’t aim for perfection. It is the small jumps in your volleyball career that will eventually lead you to your goal. Every tiny bit of progress you make will get you so much closer to what you want to achieve. You will go through some difficult moments like not getting selected for a team, and it will take time, but if you love the sport and put in the work you can achieve as much as you want to.”

Playing at high competition levels while studying at Penrhos have been a common theme for many of these Alumni, and thanks to the support and care from the teaching staff and coaches at Penrhos, it truly prepares them for their future goals.

Since graduating, Elizabeth Alchin (Class of 2022) has moved to Brisbane to train at the National Beach Volleyball High Performance Program, which is a fulltime program that prepares you to play on the world tour… but that’s not all. Liz is also studying a Bachelor of Biomedical Science and a Bachelor of Science at the University of Queensland.

Congratulations to all these exceptional Alumni who have achieved so much already. Your success inspires the entire Penrhos College community and serves as a testament to your dedication and passion!