Diamonds Announce Quad Series Squad

WAIS athlete Caitlin Bassett is the sole Western Australian Institute of Sport representative in the Australian Diamonds squad for the up-coming Quad Series.

Caitlin Thwaites and Chanel Gomes will join the Australian team adding a fresh edge to the team, that was edged 2-1 in the recent Constellation Cup series with New Zealand.

Thwaites replaces Natalie Medhurst (ankle) while West Coast Fever athlete Gomes comes in for Laura Geitz who has withdrawn due to her up-coming nuptials .

Diamonds coach Lisa Alexander said that introducing Thwaites and Gomes to the mix was a great chance to explore the depth of the squad as the Diamonds look ahead to the Commonwealth Games in 2014 and the World Netball Championships in 2015.

“It’s an exciting opportunity for both athletes to come into the Diamonds environment and show their skills and talents,” Alexander said.

“Both were very consistent performers over the ANZ Championship and deserve their selection.”

With her wedding coming up in December, Geitz has opted to withdraw from the Quad-Series, which will feature double headers in Adelaide, Newcastle and Sydney before the series continues in New Zealand, to rest and prepare for her nuptials.

The 2012 Quad Series kicks off at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre, Adelaide, on Sunday 14 October when the Australian Diamonds host England followed by the New Zealand Silver Ferns taking on South Africa. The Quad-Series can be watched live on FOX SPORTS and Telstra BigPond Sport and listened to live via ABC Grandstand.

The team for the Holden Netball Quad Series matches is:

Caitlin Bassett, Erin Bell, Madison Browne, Rebecca Bulley, Bianca Chatfield, Julie Corletto, Catherine Cox (vice-captain), Kimberlee Green, Mo’onia Gerrard, Chanel Gomes, Renae Hallinan, Chelsea Pitman, Susan Pratley, Caitlin Thwaites, Natalie von Bertouch (captain).

– Netball Australia