Success has come on multiple fronts for The Gap State High School’s Elite Volleyball Program (EVP), with 19 athletes selected in Queensland State Squads and the school adding two Intermediate Schools Cup Honours Division titles to an already impressive 2026 season.
Competing against many of Queensland’s strongest volleyball schools on the Gold Coast, The Gap’s Year 9 and Year 10 boys teams both finished on top of the podium, while Josh West and Liam Carmichael were recognised as the Most Valuable Players in their respective divisions. Together with the state squad selections, the results reflect the strength of a program that continues to develop athletes capable of excelling at the highest levels of school and representative volleyball.
Nineteen Players Earn Queensland Selection
The school’s latest milestone came with the announcement that 19 EVP athletes had been selected in Queensland State Squads, recognising their performances, commitment and dedication to the sport.
The successful players are:
- Liam Carmichael
- Jackson Cullen
- Miriam Broadhurst
- Nicoletta Kioupelis
- Ava Yule
- Jack Blackman-Smith
- Fletcher Boult
- Spencer Gooden
- Sebastian Petterson
- Oliver Polden
- Cara Gomez
- Jamison Gomez
- Chloe Hodgen
- Josh West
- Amelia O’Neill
- Keira Scanlon
- Juliet Clarke
- Edith Bretherton
- Charlie Cui
The school congratulated the players, saying their commitment, perseverance and dedication to volleyball had earned them well-deserved places in the Queensland squads.
Gold Medal Double at Schools Cup
The program’s success continued at the 2026 Intermediate Schools Cup Honours Division, where The Gap State High School captured gold medals in both the Year 10 Boys Honours and Year 9 Boys Honours competitions after three days of volleyball on the Gold Coast.
Individual accolades followed, with Josh West named the Year 10 Boys Honours MVP and Liam Carmichael receiving the Year 9 Boys Honours MVP award.
The tournament results demonstrated the depth of talent within the school’s volleyball program, with several athletes featuring prominently in both representative and school competitions.
Building Queensland’s Next Generation of Volleyball Talent
The Gap State High School’s Elite Volleyball Program has established itself as one of Queensland’s leading school-based volleyball pathways.
Open to students from Years 7 to 12, the program combines specialised volleyball coaching with academic study, strength and conditioning, athlete wellbeing, leadership development and performance education. Students have opportunities to compete in major school tournaments while also pursuing representative honours through Volleyball Queensland.
The program focuses on four core pillars—elite character, elite competitiveness, elite commitment and complete athlete development—aiming to produce well-rounded athletes who excel both on and off the court.
Supported by experienced coaches and strong links with Volleyball Queensland and other high-performance pathways, the program has developed a reputation for producing athletes capable of competing at state and national levels.
For The Gap State High School, the combination of 19 Queensland State Squad selections, two Schools Cup championships and two MVP awards provides further evidence of the program’s continued success in developing Queensland’s next generation of volleyball talent.
Published 6-June-2026
