TESSA LAVEY SIGNS WITH JAYCO RANGERS

May 19, 2017 | WNBL news

The Dandenong Basketball Association is excited to announce that Tessa Lavey has signed a two-year deal with the Dandenong Jayco Rangers.

The 2016 Rio Olympian will return to her home state of Victoria after two seasons with the Perth Lynx, captaining them to Semi Final and Grand Final appearances.

A quick, defensive point guard, Tessa is considered one of the leagueÕs most explosive perimeter players and a terrific on-court leader, able to make smart decisions on the fly and play hard-nosed defense when called upon.

Lavey told Dandenong Basketball that she feels Ôvery fortunateÕ to be with the Jayco Rangers program and closer to home, stating that Head Coach Larissa AndersonÕs passion for player development won her over during free agency.

ÒI think itÕs going to be a very exciting year ahead with the group signed so far,Ó said Tessa. ÒOver the off-season I spoke with Larissa multiple times and she just had a really good energy about her; a really good focus on individual player development which is definitely important for me. I could feel her excitement and it made me feel like Dandenong is the place I want to be.Ó

Family and friends were also big reasons for TessaÕs decision to sign with the Jayco Rangers, with the move back to Victoria allowing her to more freely visit with the family she grew up with in her hometown of Swan Hill.

ÒObviously the move back closer to home is a strong pull for me, being able to see them more often than I did in Perth is a big bonus,Ó said Tessa. ÒSara Blicavs, Carley Mijovic and myself also spent three and a half years together at the AIS and I love the opportunity IÕve got to play with those girls once again at WNBL level.Ó

TessaÕs speed and agility appears to be a perfect fit for the modern Dandenong style of play, able to dart quickly around and distribute the ball to the great outside shooting trio of Cumming, Mijovic & Blicavs.

Jayco Rangers coach Larissa Anderson is excited to have Tessa on board for that exact reason, stating that Lavey will fit ÔseamlesslyÕ into her current gameplan.

ÒI am thrilled to have Tessa join the Jayco Rangers, her leadership, speed and agility at both ends of the court will be brilliant to watch and will fit really well with our game style,Ó said Anderson. ÒA current Opal and league leader in assists and steals this past season, IÕm really looking forward to both watching and working with Tessa in 2017-18 and canÕt wait to help take her game to new heights.Ó

For all media enquiries and commercial opportunities, please contact Michelle Harrison on 0423 957 986 or via email at michelle.harrison@dandenongbasketball.com.au