Peter Howe
If passion, laughter and a relaxed demeanour are some of the personality traits required in elite performance, this month’s Don Deeble Sports Star nominee Luella Greer has it in spades.
Greer, a year 12 student at the Maribyrnong Sports Academy, is combining her burgeoning volleyball career and her final year of school, with no plans to step back from either.
“I am loving school at the moment, I am excited to be there and being challenged,” she said.
“I have an eye towards college in America, but let’s see how I go.”
Greer took up a scholarship with MSA in year seven after playing soccer and netball in primary school.
After testing at MSA they suggested that Greer should consider rowing, athletics, or volleyball.
“I was quite tall for my age, so I decided on volleyball. I currently stand at 1.80 metres.”
The rest is now history.
Greer began her volleyball playing career in grade six at Kingsville Primary School prior to going to MSA.
It took Greer less than three years of competitive volleyball to make a Victorian and then an Australian team.
She has represented Victoria in indoor volleyball in under-15 and 18 age groups. She was also selected for the under-16 and under 17 teams, but they were cancelled due to COVID-19
Her under-18 team played in the national carnival in Bendigo last year where they took out the second place.
The Yarraville resident has also represented Victoria in beach volleyball.
“We haven’t missed a season because Australia opened up over summer in both 2020 and 2021.”
Greer won the most valuable player award for the tournament in 2021 and also received “The blue and white jacket” in 2022, an internal award presented to the best male and female athlete in the Volleyball Victoria contingent.
Greer said it’s hard at times juggling all her commitments.
“I can’t play in them all due to the cost of travel and accommodation,” she said.
“I play where I can. In 2021 at the national titles, I was voted the MVP and in 2022 we finished third.”
Greer attended the 2022 AIS Volleyball camp where athletes were chosen for the Australian under-19 team. During the camp the body responsible for international volleyball changed the age groups.
“Suddenly I was training for the under-18 Australian team to play in Thailand. I was the only Victorian chosen in that team,” she said.
“We didn’t even have time to train together before leaving for the tournament.”
“We gelled together in an amazing way, much like we did in the Victorian team. It was certainly an eye opener. We didn’t win a game but we came home so much stronger and better for the
experience.”
A typical week for Greer includes two training sessions for indoor volleyball and one training session for beach volleyball with Maribyrnong Sports Academy, two sessions with University team the Renegades and one session for beach with VBVA.
She has gym workouts for a further four sessions.
Amazingly Greer also finds the time to play netball one night a week with her primary school
friends, “I do it because I love it, it’s fun being with my old school friends.”
Greer’s goals this year are to try out for the Victorian under-19 and under-23 teams and hopefully make the Australian Team to tour Thailand and New Zealand.
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 The Star Weekly
Newspapers.
If you would like to nominate a monthly winner or attend a dinner, contact swrsportsclub@gmail.com or 0408 556 631.
