Alexander Bye (Bachelor of Science) and Millie Davis (Master of International Relations) have been named the captains of the University of Melbourne’s Winged Victory team for the 2023 UniSport Nationals on the Gold Coast.
The two will lead a strong team of 369 students across 34 teams who will represent the University from 23 to 29 September. They will join students from 42 universities across the country to compete in 31 different sports.
Bye is a volleyballer who plays for the Melbourne Uni Renegades Volleyball Club, for the Melbourne Vipers in the Australian Volleyball League, and also plays some beach volleyball. The Bachelor of Science student, who was encouraged to play volleyball by his brother, has now been playing the sport for 10 years and has just started coaching school children.
Master of International Relations student Davis plays Touch Football for the Melbourne University Touch Club, had a dream come true moment when she found out that she had been selected as the women’s intervarsity sport captain. “I was really excited and surprised. I feel that in the past it has probably been people who are better at their sport than me. I always thought that it would be so cool to be recognised in that way. I am really proud and honoured to be selected as the captain,” she said as she posed for photos in her crisp captain’s blazer.
For Alex, it is the camaraderie that the Uni Nationals create between students from different sporting codes that makes the tournament so special. “The best part about Uni Nationals is being able to meet people from different disciplines at the University and enjoy the experience. Last year we stayed for an extra day after the tournament finished and went to Rottnest Island in WA, which was just a great experience with a great group of people that I wouldn’t have known before the tournament, but they have become some of my closest friends since then,” he reminisced about the 2022 event held in Perth.
Anticipating the level of competition at the tournament to be very high, Alex is looking forward to facing off against some of his friends from other universities. Millie, on the other hand, is keen to see how the University’s men’s touch team goes. “Last year was the first time since 2017 that we sent a men’s team, and they unfortunately lost all their games and got the wooden spoon. But they have come in this year with an absolute drive to get better and improve. It has been impressive to see how devoted they are. So, I’m really excited to see both our teams supporting each other once we get there,” she said, hopeful of a turnaround.
As Millie and Alex lead the Winged Victory team on the Gold Coast, they want to lead from the front. Alex said “I just want to be someone who is very approachable and accountable for people. So, I’m happy to be there for every team and support them so that everyone has a great experience.” Asked what kind of a captain she would be, Millie said, “Someone that no one is afraid to come up and speak to about anything. Always willing to give advice or a hand when someone needs it.”
Follow the updates and results of our Winged Victory teams via sport.unimelb.edu.au and through our social media channels.