TRIBUTES have been paid to a "tremendously popular, well respected and admired" volleyball star following his tragic death in the Merley accident.

Family, friends, coaches and teachers of 18-year-old Mark Pit-man from Poole have described their shock and sadness on hearing the news of the teenager's death.

Mark was among three people killed in a collision at the junction of Queen Anne Drive and Lynwood Drive at around 9pm on Sunday.

He was returning home with four other people after competing at the Poole Festival of Volleyball at Hamworthy Rec-reation Club when the car he was travelling in collided with a Rover 620 saloon.

Mark was well respected within the volleyball fraternity after bagging a number of national junior titles.

He started playing volleyball for Wessex at the age of 12 and went on to become a member of the England juniors.

With his local team he won five national junior championships at under-15, under-16 and under-18 levels, four of them as captain.

He also won the under-18 national beach volleyball championships held in July at Sand-banks.

In addition to captaining his Wessex six-aside team he also captained the South West team at both under-15 and under-17 levels, winning the inter-

regional championships.

Devastated by the news, his coach Lynn Allen said: "He was one of the nicest people anyone could have the pleasure of meeting. He was an inspirational captain who led by example."

Keith Parsons, deputy head at Poole High, said staff and students were "totally shocked" on hearing of his death.

"Mark was well motivated and a well liked young man."