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Kayla Cullen receives second consecutive ANZ Championship Best Young Player nomination

Wednesday 27 April 2011, 4:47PM

By ANZ Championship

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As the LG Mystics stand poised to play in their first ever ANZ Championship Finals Series, their young gun defender Kayla Cullen has been announced as the fourth nominee for the league’s 2011 Best Young Player Award.

This is the second consecutive year in which Cullen has been nominated for the Best Young Player Award. Designed to recognise emerging stars of the world’s best netball league, the award guidelines allow for players to be nominated in successive years, as long as they have taken the court at no more than five games in total across any preview ANZ Championship season.

19-year-old Cullen just meets the criteria, having taken the court on five occasions in 2010.

This year is a very different story, with Cullen taking the court at all 12 of the Mystics’ games so far this season.

Clearly enjoying her regular starting spot which has seen her as a key contributor to the Mystics’ eight wins to date, Cullen was delighted when told of her nomination.

“I’ve found it a lot easier settling in this year, it’s really helped having that bit more experience from last season and knowing the girls better. I’m not as nervous as I used to be going on court, I feel right at home now”, she said.

“I’m just loving the opportunity to get so much court time, and getting out there and showing what us young players are made of!”

One player who has had a huge impact on Cullen this year is Silver Fern Anna Scarlett, who made her ANZ Championship debut this season after a break from netball.

“She makes my job so much easier...she makes me look good!”

Cullen suffered from cramping during the Mystics’ Round 11 match against the Mercury Energy Tactix. Not wanting to risk injury before her team’s crucial Round 12 match this weekend, she sat on the sidelines for the second half of that game.

The Mystics head south for their final match of the season, playing the Ascot Park Hotel Southern Steel in Invercargill on Sunday night. If they win that match, they will secure their first ever Finals Series appearance.

Unphased by the looming pressure of Sunday’s match, Cullen said “I’m feeling confident because we’re a stronger team, we have stronger shooters, and we can match up evenly throughout the court, position for position”.

Born in Auckland, Cullen has been playing netball since she was nine years old. She was a member of the 2010 World Netball Series Champions, the FastNet Ferns, and is currently a member of New Zealand’s 21/U squad.

Cullen has a busy life off the court, working part-time as a nanny and studying Sport & Recreation. However, her ultimate goal is far removed from sport – she would love to eventually work as a florist!

Cullen’s fellow Best Young Player nominees are currently Ashleigh Brazill (NSW Swifts), Chelsea Pitman (Queensland Firebirds) and Sulu Tone-Fitzpatrick (First Windows Waikato/Bay of Plenty Magic), with the fifth and final nominee to be announced during Round 12. The winner will be announced during ANZ Championship Grand Final week in May.