We take a look at four Maties players who have caught the eye in their Varsity Netball campaign this year.
After their successful trip to Pretoria, where they beat UJ 72-32 and UCT 82-21, the Maties are looking to consolidate their position on the log ahead of two crunch matches.
The girls have played four matches thus far and have scored a whopping 247 goals! Their defence is also sharp, only letting in 145 goals, with only UP-Tuks having been able to best the ladies in maroon.
While the results have been a team effort there have been four girls who caught the eye:
Jo Prins:
The 20-year-old WD is in her second season of Varsity Netball and was one of the reasons the Maties managed to hold off NMMU in their first game. She attended school in Stellenbosch, at Bloemhof High School for Girls, and is currently studying B.Ed at Stellenbosch Unviersity. While Nombulele Phuza from NMMU scooped the FNB Player of the match, Prins was the standout Matie that day.
Nelandre Mostert:
They say a champion is not judged by the amount of times they fall, but how many times the rise. Goal Shooter Mostert struggled in here first Varsity Netball match against NMMU but then delivered a superb performance against the powerful UP-Tuks to help Maties push the Pretoria-based team all the way. Originally from Potchefstroom, where she matriculated from Potchefstroom Gymnasium, she is also studying B.Ed here in Stellenbsch. Mostert was the FNB Player of the match against UP-Tuks.
Sune Claasens:
They say you can’t buy experience and the Augsburg Gymnasium schooled Claasens is living proof of the expression. She is an outstanding example of how to balance academics and high performance sport, having finished both a BComm Degree and Post Graduate Certificate in Education. She is currently enrolled in a Post Graduate Diploma in Development Finance and at 23 she is a rock in the Maties team. Alongside her co-captain Juline Rossouw she is part of the leadership core and it is easy to see how this centre has learned from playing in all three editions of Varsity Netball. Claasens was the FNB Player of the match against UJ.
Haike Brink:
In her position of Wing Attack she is the playmaker on the court and off it she is another fine example of how to live a full life. She matriculated from Bonnievale High School before joining Maties and has also completed her BA (Sport Science) and Post Graduate Certificate in Education. A future in either coaching of conditioning is certainly on the cards as she is currently doing her BSc Honours in Sport Science. Brink is one of four players in the team who are in their third season, alongside co-captains Claasens and Rossouw, with Melandi Pretorius being the other. Brink was the FNB Player of the match against UCT.
Who will be the next Matie to catch the eye? Be sure to catch the match between Maties and VUT at 18:00 in the Coetzenburg Indoor Centre.
By Dorfling Terblanche
