Tara Murray
Noah Tuaoi may still be new to volleyball, but he is already starting to make his mark.
The Cobblebank resident has only been playing competitive volleyball for two years, but has already put his name in front of Australian selectors.
Tuaoi will this week head to Bangkok to be part of the Volleyball Australia national development program.
A strong performance at the camp could lead to him being selected to represent Australia.
Tuaoi is still shocked that he was selected for the camp to begin with.
“I first heard about it towards the end of January and a few of my volleyball friends said they were going, but I didn’t get an email,” he said.
“My mum later on got an email telling us that I had been invited, I was just shocked when I first saw it.
“I was very excited.”
Having only ever been to New Zealand, travelling to Thailand is a new experience for Tuaoi. He said he would take an open mind to the program and see what happens.
He said making the Australian team for his age group would mean a lot.
“It will really show all the hard work that I’ve put in and I would love to make it show my parents what I can do.”
Volleyball wasn’t the first sporting love for Tuaoi. He started playing basketball when he was eight and continues to do so today.
He said he enjoys the challenge of both sports.
“I just thought I would play a new sport and decided to start playing volleyball,” he said. “It’s been a good choice and I love the atmosphere and the people are very different from basketball.
“It’s really exciting when you play volleyball and you get to spike the ball, it’s very different.
“In basketball I’m a development player for the under-18s in Melton. I still love basketball and it’s fun, and I’m balancing both.”
Tuaoi is part of the Western Region Volleyball Club, which runs key events in Melbourne’s west.
He is one of the rare ones from the west to be part of the state program.
“There’s not too much volley in Melton and I have to travel out to the east to do some training.
“In my state team there’s only two people from the west side. I’m trying to find a team that I can join.
“Distance to training though comes a barrier. I’ll try and look for a team to continue to improve my skills nearby.”
Tuaoi said his dream is to represent Australia in volleyball.
