The Callala Beach product's selection, who also had the honour of playing for City in their clash with Country during the carnival, was based on her performances with the South Coast team, where she guided them to fifth place at this month's NSW CHS volleyball tournament, held at Armidale's Sport UNE.

South Coast opened the three-day tournament, from May 18-20, with back-to-back 2-nil losses to Sydney West and Western before rebounding 2-nil against North West.

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South Coast, where Smith was joined by fellow Nowra High students Aimee Lamb, Mireille Smith, Ulladulla High trio Manny Kneeshaw, Rachel Heron and Darcy Kneeshaw, Batemans Bay High duo Shanae Alvey and Lily Pearce and Wollongong High's Mali Towers in the squad, opened day two with a 2-nil win against Hunter, which was followed by a 2-1 loss to Sydney North.

They wrapped up day two with an impressive 2-nil victory over North Coast.

On the final day, South Coast opened with a 2-1 loss to Sydney South West before overcoming Sydney East 2-nil - to finishing the tournament on a high.

Following the completion of the carnival, which was won by Western (2-nil over Sydney North), the 10-player NSW CHS squad was announced, where Smith (in just her second year playing the sport) was named alongside Western's Zara Sheader, Tegan Bush, Lily Grimmond, Madelynn Vallis and Harriet Fitzsimmons, Sydney North's Ashleigh Meyer and Jessica Hunter, Sydney South West's Rachel Dunlop and Sydney West's Yumi Cailloce - with North Coast's Steve Clayworth the coach.

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Lamb was also recognised for her solid performances in Armidale, being named as South Coast's player of the tournament by their coach Matt Duncan (Ulladulla High School).

Due to COVID-19, there will only be state competitions, including the NSW All Schools tri-series which Smith will attend at Olympic Park in June, and no national competitions held in 2021.

This success caps off a strong few weeks for Smith, who claimed fifth at April's under 17s Australian Youth Beach Volleyball Championships at Coolangatta.

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