TIM Ebbs can't thank David Beard enough for getting him interested in volleyball.
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The 15-year-old has returned from Adelaide after picking up a silver medal with NSW at the Australian All-Schools Volleyball Championships.
But it was Beard's influence soon after taking up a role at St Columba Anglican School that started the ball rolling.
"This school was really how I started playing volleyball when Mr Beard first came here," Ebbs said.
"He was an Olympic captain and brought the excitement about volleyball with him."
A few weeks back, Ebbs and New South Wales were beaten by a very strong Queensland side in the final, but the teenager still learned plenty of lessons along the way.
"It was three (sets) to nil so we got a bit destroyed but they've been reigning champions for the last couple of years and are a really good team," Ebbs said.
"They have an awesome program up there."
Ebbs knows the road ahead is long if he wishes to pursue the goal of being selected in an Australian team at any upcoming Olympic Games.
But it was one he wasn't daunted about.
"I'm looking forward to playing more volleyball and making more teams; get to more competitions, learn more and ultimately I'm hoping to go to the Olympics," he said.
"That would be the pinnacle.
"I'd be really excited to go to the 2024 or 2028 Olympics, but I'm just starting out and still have a lot to learn if I want to go to that level."
He admitted his first volleyball tournament experience was one that provided him with a taste of what to expect.
"It's all about starting at school level and then building from there," the teenager said.
"I'm still practicing every skill and then hopefully get to national level and then make a national team because it would be amazing to represent Australia."
But he knows none of it would be possible without the guidance of Beard.
"He told me about those state selection trials," he said.
"He's the greatest coach you could ever ask for. He's always putting himself behind you and putting you first and looking for opportunities for everybody else to improve."
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