Volleyballer Isabella Maticevski has always been very competitive.
So when she came across volleyball in year five, she thought it was the sport for her.
A year later she was picked in the school team due to her height and everything has gone from there.
“It looked like it was a nice sport for me, it seemed to be fun,” she recalls. “We had no idea of the skills required, we just enjoyed competing.”
This would be the start of a budding volleyball career.
With not many places to hone her craft, Maticevski was able to find a junior development squad in Maribyrnong run by Michael Dolan.
Dolan also happened to be the head volleyball coach at the Maribyrnong Sports Academy.
“Volleyball is not played in many places, yet I still wanted to pursue this sport,” Maticevski said.
“I wasn’t zoned to the school, but I gained select entry through my academic results and athletic ability.
“As a junior at MSA our training revolved around learning the basic volleyball skills that are critical to know and practice, digging, setting and spiking.
“Michael is still my coach and without him I wouldn’t have represented Victoria or Australia.
Maticevski has represented Victoria at under-15, 16, 17 and 18 levels and won several awards at representative level.
Just prior to the enforced COVID break she was chosen in the Volleyball Australia youth women’s team to play a friendly against New Zealand at the AIS in Canberra.
Now out of the junior ranks, Maticevski is playing in the Melbourne Renegades Club based at Melbourne University where she trains twice a week.
“I think I have always been a mature and responsible person, probably from hearing about my father, Lou played soccer and competed in athletics, internationally,” she said.
“He would always speak to his coaches to learn and improve. He was very disciplined to ensure he was always at his very best to compete. My mother Bo has instilled this in me too.
“The year I captained the under-15 team was my toughest experience but also a pivotal time that helped shape my leadership skills.”
Maticevski has a simple mantra that she has applied to everything she does, “If they can do it, so can I.”
She has been an integral part of the MSA beach volleyball program and won a bronze medal in the 2018 Volleyball Australia, Beach National Championships, as well as placing first in the Victorian Beach Volleyball school championships three straight years.
On court, Maticevski has big goals.
“I hope to be chosen in the 2023 Australian Volleyball Academy and go to the AIS, and if that is the case. The 2032 Olympics in Brisbane is my long-term sporting aim.”
Maticevski is the March nominee for the Don Deeble Award. The Don Deeble Sports Star Award is sponsored by the Yarraville Club Cricket Club, Strathmore Community Bank, the Deer Park Club, Ascot Vale Sports and Trophies and Star Weekly Newspapers.
If you would like to nominate a monthly winner or attend a dinner at the Medway Golf Club, please contact the club by emailing swrsportsclub@gmail.com or sms 0408 556 631.
