#TuksVolleyball: UP-Tuks women’s volleyball wins Classic Tournament

Posted on September 25, 2018

The UP-Tuks women’s volleyball indoor team dominated over the weekend to win the Tubby Reddy Classic Tournament played in Durban.
 
In the four games, UP-Tuks played they only conceded one set. That was in the final against the team of the Durban University of Technology.  The big spinoff for the UP-Tuks is that they have qualified to represent South Africa in December in the Zone Six Tournament which will also be contested in Durban over December.
 
The best club teams of Angola, Botswana, Zambia, Swaziland and Mozambique will be in action.
 
GP Fourie (UP-Tuks coach) said getting the team to qualify is only half the battle being won. He should know as he has been involved with South African volleyball since 1975. First as a player representing various South African teams and then later on as a coach also for multiple teams. A definite highlight was getting to be involved with the Australian volleyball team as they prepared for the 2000 Olympic Games. 
 
Fourie describes himself as the forever student of the game. Saying that no one could ever claim to know all there is to know about the game.
 
“I honestly believe that UP-Tuks is capable of making their presence felt during the Zone Six Tournament but the real hard work only starts now. I got to realise over the weekend what a significant influence altitude has on the flight of the ball. The players will have to adjust to it in the way they play the ball.
 
“I don’t think people realise how tactical volleyball can be. Statistics is vital because that is how you establish what a team’s strong points and weaknesses are. Most of the world’s top team often have a coaching staff of five and more. Some’s role is only to record the statistics of the game as it happens. As the coach, you got to be able to adjust your game continuously.”
 
Fourie is of the opinion that the setters are vital to any team’s success. He also views the service as an important ‘weapon’ in team tactics.
 
Over the past weekend during the Tubby Reddy Tournament UP-Tuks beat the Panthers in their first game 3-0 and followed it up with another 3-0 drubbing over Kuvuki. In the semi-final, they beat UKZN 3-0 and in the final was 3-1 victorious against Durban University Technology.
 
 
The UP-Tuks women’s volleyball teams have established themselves as a force to be reckoned with in all local competitions.
 
Earlier this year the indoor team got oh so close to winning the Champions Cup Indoor Tournament at Wits. The final was a tight affair with the team of the University of the Western Cape having to pull out all the stops to beat Tuks by three sets to two. The score in the final set was 15-13.
 
Last year the UP-Tuks women’s beach volleyball team managed to win the Varsity as well as the USSA Tournaments.
 
 
- Author Wilhelm de Swardt

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