Jab, jab and the Big V State Championship Women come with the K.O punch ! K.O, as in the offensively skilled, dominant Kate Oliver who joins the red, white and green after spending last season with Waverley.

 

Oliver is a 6’5 mobile center, who has the ability to play close to the basket with good hands and very good footwork, but is a lethal shooter when left open along the 3pt line – shooting at just under 40% last season from downtown. Defenders will have to pick their poison in 2017 when trying to deal with all the tools that Oliver brings to the table - born from an excellent college career and recent WNBL experience with the Sydney Uni Flames and Melbourne Boomers.

 

Last season, Oliver averaged 18.6 points per game, 9.2 rebounds per game, 1.2 blocks per game and shot 82% from the free throw line – each of those categories ranking her in the top 7 players in the league for the season. In 6 of her 22 games last season, she scored 28+ points, and in 9 other games she had 15+ points.

 

‘I’m really happy to join Diamond Valley – I think the club will be really fun to play for. When I played against the Eagles last season they were hardworking and they’re coached by Dee who I got to work with when she was an Assistant at Nunawading SEABL – and she was a knowledgeable mentor then’, Kate shared.

 

‘The club has been amazing in a short amount of time – you can feel how supportive and united the atmosphere is here and I’m really excited and energized to begin the next chapter of my career here. I’d love to see the club rewarded for it’s effort with a championship win – and if our team can play together we’re as good a chance as any of achieving that.’

 

Coach Dee has been hard at work running individual skills sessions with players, including Kate, for a number of weeks to begin putting bricks in the wall of her team’s development for season 2017.

 

‘We’re very excited to have Kate join our group – she’s a legit 6’5 centre who is versatile and agile enough to play on the perimeter too, which suits our style’, Head Coach Dee Butler said.

 

‘She has experience in WNBL and SEABL and is just a great person who is low maintenance and just works. From what we have seen and know of her already – she will help shape our culture positively by the way she conducts herself, on and off the court’.

 

DVBA CEO Ross Wignell adds 'I'm pleased to welcome Kate to Diamond Valley. She will add valuable size to the front court of our Big V State Championship Women's team; her size and ability will be an asset at both ends of the floor. Kate is very capable of shooting the 3, and will be a fantastic target when playing closer to the basket. She will provide a potent offensive threat in our system.'

 

Watch Kate in action this season - join the Eagles Nest and become a 2017 member ! We have a number of membership options available, which can be viewed here : http://bit.ly/2gHysMT