Drop back pays off for volleyballers
The Motueka High School volleyball team back from left: Phoebe Erni, Jess Perry, Charlotte Bradley, Portia Fifita, Meg Maley, Anjhela Dalluay. Front: Maddi Easton, Ilonka Blomfield, Isabelle Perrson, Heleene Surbano. Photo: Supplied.
Rather than run the risk of being overwhelmed, Motueka High School opted to slip down the grades at the South Island Junior Volleyball Championships in Christchurch.
The school’s under 15 girls side finished third in division two last year but, going through a rebuilding phase, coach Allan Brodie preferred to avoid the possibility of being demoralised.“We played Nayland “A” about six weeks before the tournament and they were way too strong. So we didn’t go through the Tasman qualifying system,” says Allan.
That enabled Motueka to drop down to tier four where the side went unbeaten in its eight matches.
“Our serving was just too much for the other sides and we didn’t drop a single set.
“We would have liked more of a challenge as we weren’t under a lot of pressure,”
comments Allan.
But he adds the team was still buzzing.
“It is a very skilful sport. There’s also lots of camaraderie and fun.”
Nayland went on to win division one, beating Christchurch Girls’ High School 2-0 in the final with basketball star Emelia Ainley adjudged MVP.
There were 58 girls’ teams in the tournament, highlighting the growth of the sport in the South Island.