30 October 2008
Cedars, Hawks Crowned National Club Champions
Sydney Cedars have confirmed their status as Australia's premier indoor volleyball club with back-to-back titles as the Spike Online National Club Ranking men's champions. They won the title on the back of yet another superb season in the Sydney Volleyball... click image to read more.

October 2008
Last weekend the hierarchy of the Sydney Cedars, Head Coach Joe Haddad, and trainer Andrew Simos, were in Canberra attending the National Volleyball Symposium. This was the first volleyball symposium in Australia since 1994 and was an opportunity for our coaching staff to rub shoulders with the top coaches in Australia, but in particular one of the best coaches in the world, Hugh McCutcheon. Hugh is the coach of the American national indoor volleyball team that recently caused a huge upset at the Beijing Olympics by defeating the number 1 team in the world over the last 6 years, Brazil.
The symposium comprised of 8-3 hour sessions over 3 days and covered topics such as: The road to Success, Jump higher/ hit harder, how values contribute to a strong team, do your players know their role in the team, and many more. The most important theme that was highlighted again and again throughout the weekend was that there is no magic. It takes a lot of hard work both on and off the court to be successful. The most important thing is that you understand what you are doing, and know the direction you want to go in. The pleasing thing regarding the Cedars is that many things that were highlighted at the symposium, we are already doing. There are also many things that we can improve on as well.
14 September 2008
Cedars Wins SVL 2008 edition.

For everyone who thought this was the end of the Sydney Cedars success, we would just like to note that we proved you wrong. After a very busy and tough year so far the Sydney Cedars have again taken out the most difficult Sydney Volleyball League (SVL) title as the Champions for the last 12 years straight. Sydney Cedars are currently ranked number one in Australia (by Spike Magazine.) With lots of player movement this year, everyone thought it would be the end of the Cedars reign at SVL. But through the hard work and ongoing training by the players and commitment by the trainers and coaching staff with their support and knowledge to the team throughout the year they have managed to turn this around into one of the most successful years for the team. Losing only one match against the second most successful team in the competition Westside, who couldn't qualify for the finals due to rules and regulation breaches, Cedars won every single other match convincingly. A semi final and final that were possibly the hardest games all year for the team, who pulled away with 2 wins after a very hard fight against UTS and UNSW.

Throughout the past 12 years there have been players lost and players gained but the Cedars have maintained their ongoing success through the hard work and training conducted by Andrew Simos and Edi Vukosa, coaching by Joe Haddad and captained by Alex Jelicic

Thanks to the champions Cedars players who have made history by winning the SVL 12 years straight title were no other club in Australia has came close to what the Cedars has achieved today and in the past 12 years.

Special thanks goes out to the Cedars supporters, sponsors and media, also a special thanks to Bankstown Sports Club for on going support to the Cedars Volleyball Club for many years. Well done to all who were part of this wonderful team and a well deserved break awaits.

Joe Haddad

 

14 September 2008
Cedars Wins SVL 2008 edition.
After a very shaken up year, with lots of injuries and problems, the Sydney Cedars managed to take what could have arguably been the most difficult SVL title in the last 12 years. With lots of teams and players movements this year, everyone thought it would be the end of the Cedars reign at SVL, but hard work by the remaining players, and commitment by the coaching staff turn this around into one of the most successful years for the team. Losing only one match against the second most succesfull team in the competition, Westside, who couldn't qualify for the finals due to rules and regulations breaches, Cedars won every single other match convincingly. A semi final and final that were possibly the hardest games all year for the team, who pulled away with 2 wins after a very hard fight against UTS and UNSW who will undoubtly be strong again next year. Well done to all who were part of this wonderful team and a well deserve break awaits.

07 September 2008
Finally the awaited match has taken place. Cedars vs UTS. A new and rejuvenated UTS "frogs", full of ex-cedars players (although 2 did not play), but still a much stronger lineup and ready to play UTS team was suppose to be a match to remember. UTS made the first move, with coach-player Ib hitting and passing very well, their former second setter and now opposite hitting extremely well too, and the rest of the team inspired by their performance, managed to take the first set, although Cedars dominated the whole game to get to 23-20 but not being able to close the game and ended up loosing 23-25.
The Rest of the match brought the best of a few of the Cedars, with a lot to show after a very proficient and improved season, James became the key factor for the Cedars triumph, unstoppable in his attack thru the middle, James became the new star of the team without doubt. Klish had his good moments too and the always reliable Alex and Marz carried the flag in more than one situation to solidify Cedars dominance in men's volleyball throughout the whole year. Nathan was superb with his block and Pez and Ib gave the much desired depth the team always relies on. Pablo helped Joe from the bench who was the inspirational and possible best coach this year again. Now ready for a final match against UNSW who dispatched sydney uni with a much improved team game.

02 September 2008
Pete is back from Beijing with lots of info and pictures. It was an incredible experience for him. Being this not his first olympics, Pete, who's been a member of the sydney Cedars for the last few years is an experienced international referee and now a member of the International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) and is involved in most major international tournaments, particularly in Beach Volleyball international events.
Checkout the new pictures on our picture gallery.
Peter Hreszczuk is the Asia Pacific & Japan IBM/HP Sales Executive who is a member of the international volleyball federation and referees association.

31 August 2008
After two final matches against the top 3 and 4 teams, Cedars took the initiative on both occasions and won in an enfatic way against Dragons and UTS 3 - 0, finishing the competition with only 1 loss against Westside who failed to qualify for the finals. It was a pure domination on all sides of the court, with Nathan returning from injury, James pumped as a young stud, Alex organizing the team while Joe Haddad was away, George recovering from a very hard "night at the office", Mike hammering from the back and front attack, Marz returning to full form, and the Argie combination Pablo killing it when it was most critical and Seb distributing the game flawlessly. Thanks and godspeed to Pablo, who was a superb addition to the team and will definitely be missed by the whole team with his inspirational game but will leave a most positive effect in the team for years to come. Congratulations all for another extremely successful season and good luck for the finals.
The final matches will be held next sunday at 2pm between USYD and UNSW following by UTS vs Cedars. While the final match will be held Sunday the 14th of September from 1030am.
A mention should be said about the two unlucky teams who should 've been playing the finals. Westside who finished 2nd best overall and Dragons who would at least finished 4th, while UTS took a lucky 4th place when being 6th overall just ahead of SNV. But with a set of lucky events, which involved referee participations that could not be provided by some of these teams, who never had a qualified referee before this years comp, making them loose well deserved points won fair and square on the court. It is unheard of a rule like this, which was introduced this year and not completed by many of the teams which put a weaker and not deserving team in the finals. Another point for the state association and defeat for volleyball players in NSW.

 

25 August 2008
Latest News: Cedars will be the first team in australia to be training with the new and official MVA200 olympic ball. Due to a lot of demand and extremely low stock available around the world, the new volleyball has been delayed a fair bit to arrive to us. But now here it is!!

18 August 2008
Cedars again struggling to help the sport grow in the region.
The cedars team is well known and respected by many if not all the players in not only NSW but all over the country. Being the dominant team for more than a decade, Cedars always brings out the best in each of its players and by doing so improves the team and finally the competition and other teams that compete in it, lifting the level and respect for the sport amongst the rest. This time, it's being affected by the NSW volleyball federation's decision not to allow one of it's players to play the finals of this year's competition due to have missed one game this second round and not have enough matches played to be allowed to play the finals. Even though his registration was paid in time and played all but one of the second round matches (he arrived to the country at the end of the first round and have been training with Cedars since then) , he will not be allowed to participate in the finals this year. Even though another player was allowed last year to do so for another team, while in the same exact situation and playing the grand final against the Cedars last year , it is still not allowed . This is not just unfair but also unethical by the delegates. Another low point for volleyball NSW.

17 August 2008
Cedars make another step for Nr 12th SVL crown. This time it was an enfatic win against a former arch-rival SNV, who this time didn't show any strength against the favorite Cedars. It's shaping up to be a very interesting final this year, with 4 teams fighting for the remaining 2 spots in SVL's final rounds, while Sydney cedars is guaranteed the number 1 position again this year and Sydney Uni will be ranked second.

10 August 2008
Cedars trash BHV. Dominating the court while attacking and blocking there was little BHV could do to gain points against the Cedars, helping cement their nr 1 rank again.

08 August 2008
Cedars news around the world
The cedars are the talk of international volleyball these days. making history in australian volleyball, they are now mentioned in the South American volleyball premier website. check it out here: http://www.somosvoley.com/noticias/muestra_nota.php?categoria=categoria_Ligas_Internaciones_0809&id=31

( Partial translation: The Australian team where the Argentine attacker Pablo Hebenstreit and the setter Sebastián Bibring play, the Sydney Cedars, won in straight sets before one of the great rivals for the title, the Sydney University, on the 10th round of the comp. Both teams were great protagonists on most of the regional championships. This time, unlike the first time with Hebenstreit where great part of the team was absent, the complete formation allowed a simple proceeding with sets of 25-23, 25-13 and 25-18.

Cedars proving too strong
03 August 2008

Cedars proving too strong and too experienced for the young Uni side - the final result going 3-0 to the Cedars side. The return of a few of the missing players was gladly welcomed by the team as it strenghten the side almost to it's peak performance so far. Darren came back from a long rest to cover for the abscense of Sebastian and shine as bright as he ever did, while almost didn't show he missed so many trainings and competition this year to set brilliantly throughout the whole match. Pablo, the latest adition to the team, showed his experience and gave a volleyball class this sunday to the Sydney Uni boys. Marcelo came from the bench with all his power and experience to seal the victory in a complete demolition by the powerful Sydney Cedars against a very unorganized and inexperienced Sydney Uni team, who is still coming second in the ladder but will have to work a lot harder if they want to keep it that way as UTS and Westside continue their charge to make the finals of SVL.

Cedars still on top
Westside proved a strong oponent after their first round 3-0 loss against the Cedars. This time, with a very small squad were Cedars were missing 4 of their usual starting players, (mike, marz, nathan and Rafa, not mentioning two of their 3 setters) Westside took advantage of the situation to take a very close match that finished 3 sets to 2 on their favour. It couldn't be a closer match than this. With 105 points each team over the whole lenght of the match and winning by the smallest margin possible 15-13 in the final set . On the other hand, it was a good ocation to welcome the new addition of the team, Pablo Hebenstreit, who played for the famous international club Barcelona in the Spanish first division, made his debut with a bang. Playing as opposite, hitting very strong from position 1 and 2, he gave the Cedars a lot of precious and needed points in this very close match. Even after their first loss in SVL the cedars are still on top comfortable in the league's ladder. 4 points ahead of the second team in the comp, sydney uni, Next match will be one to watch, which could also be an anticipated final for this year's SVL.

Sydney Cedars still undefeated
First round of the second half was a very hard fight for the Cedars. NSW uni showed why they are a finalist contender as they fought hard on the first, took the second and almost took
the final set to go to a tie break. But again, the hard trained team and experienced of the Cedars was enough to win the match on a final 3 set to 1 result.
This time, cedars showed great strenght thru the middle, with Pez, Ibail and James hitting all over the place, while Alex swapped positions with George and Klish played opposite to Seb. Rafael helped in the passing and hitting section. Keep up the good work boys!

Cedars finishes the first leg with a bang
June 29th 2008
Sydney Cedars, the top ranked team in the nation does it again. Defeating UTS was never going to be an easy task, not early this year and even less now, with the biggest lineup change of all SVL teams, making UTS no doubt the team to beat this year. With a strong start this year in Sydney State Cup #1 and a false step in the semi finals of State cup #2, Cedars had some questions to answer, especially to see if they would have the depht and quality to pull yet another championship this coming year. The game started with inspiring performances from George Atrache, who just
came back from a long break travelling all around europe, who didn't look rusty at all, the never ending preasure from the Cedars serves, incredible defense and block, and unsurpasable tactics, Cedars brought the game to the opossition from the first point onwards. Only 15 points were allowed on the first set, while 19 and 15 on the following ones, made this game the most comprehensive domination in any match played by the Cedars in a long long time.
Most of it was due to the long preparation and training the team has had in the last few months, the build-up after a perfect first round/half and individual performances as well as team effort gave the advantage to the Cedars from the beginning.
A big mention should be made to the incredible improvement both in attack as in defense by James Meredith and the great effort in passing and defense by George Atrache. who played his first game in more than 3 months.
Rafael and Alex brought the Balance to the team with their accurate passing and attack, while Nathan Lovett added to the experienced lineup with setter Sebastian Bibring and powerful opossite Michael Klish, who showed again why he was selected the League's MVP before.

Cedars tops rankings again
June 24 2008.

Sydney Cedars is again the top team in the nation.
with 6 wins and no losses, including a state
competition win this year, Cedars is not only the
top team in the state but the Best overall in Australia.

SVL round 6 - June 22nd 2008
41 games and counting.
Cedars started with a bang taking on a very experienced Dragons team. With a few loses in Marcelo Grego and Derren Hill and the all around libero George Atrache the team was ready for a big match. But again, the tactics, training, and depth of the
team showed why they are the current champion and still only
undefeated team in the comp.
UTS lost yet another match against UNSW this time, and Westside took it from the surprise of SVL 2008, sydney Uni.
Leaving Cedars well ahead of the pack with only one match
to go for the first half of the tournament.

SVL round 5 - June 15th 2008
40 games in a row sounds like something very hard to achieve,
having an average of 12 games every year plus the finals, this would involve not just one but many years to complete.
Today, the Cedars make the impossible again, beating this time
last years finalist and last week's UTS slayer, Westside.
With many reinforncements, Westside was expected to be a major encounter for Cedars. Still undefeated, and the only team except for Cedars to remain on top of the table after 5 rounds, Westside could not match the fine and tactical approach Cedars was commited to this morning. 3-0 was the result, which not only puts Cedars on top of the table on its own, but with only 3 games lost on all the matches played it's far ahead of the pack now. One more game remains, against the only team in the comp who was able to beat Cedars this year. A match no one will want to miss.

NSW state team - under 19
David Zhang is part now of the NSW state team. Congratulations
on this great achievent!

SVL 2008–Undefeated
Sydney Cedars remain
Undefeated after 3 games. Leading the competition and aiming for a 12th straight title. A great performance by the cedars block and the new member Rafael, made the difference this time...

12th straight Newcastle State Cup.
A flawless tournament crowned Cedars as the new and still reigning champion for the state of NSW. With yet again another championship, with no sets against, cedars proved again to be the best team and most successfull in the history of the sport. No other team has achieved what this team has. Not just by the players, but by the management team also, which always keeps getting new talent and developing it's own starting from our juniors such as David Zhang, and Newcastle MVP Frank "the tank" Mative from France. Thanks for your support in making this such a great team.

1st 2008 State Cup - Newcastle
Cedars will start their charge by defending one of many tournaments won during 2007. This time at Newcastle, where
looks like it will be an all time team participation with 12 first
division teams. It will be a tough start for this year after the success of the last.

2008 season - open tryouts and trainings will start next week
Tuesday 19/2/08 and thursday 21/2/08 will be our kickoff dates
for the new year. Please contact Joe @ 0414775533 for any
questions. See you there!