Ballarat won the men’s division one title for the first time in more than a decade last year.

However, this time it is releasing most of its leading players to gain valuable match play with their Phantoms

state league team-mates from Bendigo and Horsham in the top division.

Ballarat will consequently drop back to men’s division three, as well as fielding a division two women’s team.

Each squad will be a combination of juniors, newcomers and seasoned veterans.

Volleyball Ballarat president Damon Minotti said the skins would be the first exposure in a tournament for a number of younger players, while junior girls would be looking for improvement in their second year.

The skins has attracted 26 teams from regional Victoria and metropolitan Melbourne.

They will compete in three men’s and two women’s divisions for more than $4000 in prizemoney.

Minotti said unlike other tournaments where trophies and prizemoney were usually restricted to the top two teams, the skins format offered a cash prize to any team in the draw which could win 25-12 or better in any match.

He said if no one was able to do achieve this in a set timeslot, the money would jackpot to the next round.

Minotti said the format added considerable interest to the tournament, with every point counting regardless of a team’s overall standing.

Play starts on Saturday at 8am at three venues – Loreto College Gonzaga Barry Centre, Ballarat Grammar Rintel Centre and the Wendouree Sports and Events Centre, finishing by 5pm Sunday.