A Brisbane northside high school is set to further enhance its reputation as a nursery for future volleyball champions.
A new Volleyball Centre for Excellence has opened at Craigslea State High School, which has the capability to serve as a Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic pre-Games training site.
Queensland Sports Minister Tim Mander said the $18 million indoor sports hall at the school in Chermside West would also give local children and community members an opportunity to train in a worldclass facility.
Minister Mander said the 1705-square-metre multipurpose sports hall featured two international-standard volleyball courts, convertible into four training courts or 10 badminton courts.
He said there was seating for up to 200 on the mezzanine level as well as modern amenities including two change rooms, a kiosk, meeting rooms and tiered external seating for the adjacent sports oval.
“The Volleyball Centre for Excellence is designed to support the school’s highly successful Volleyball Academy which had been operating at the site since 1988.”
Craigslea State High School Principal Mick Leigh said the new volleyball centre would lift their game further to a professional level.
“It’s an absolute game changer for us. It offers the ability for our coaches to work together with their squads, rather than being limited by the number of squads able to fit into the old court at one time,” Mr Leigh said.
“The current hall that we have was not fit for purpose in terms of being able to run a full-size volleyball court in training.
“This Olympic-standard volleyball centre has the correct run off and height so students can do what they need to do during the game.”
Volleyball Australia National High Performance Director Craig Marshall said the new centre was a massive boost for volleyball around Australia.
“We have the Brisbane 2032 home Olympics coming, which indoor volleyball is going to be a massive part of,” Mr Marshall said.
He said there had been s strong build-up of volleyball participation in Australia over the past few decades, “so we need more and more facilities and this facility is great”.
