Local volleyballers dominate southern rivals
Emelia Ainley, centre, was named tournament MVP. Photo: Supplied.
The depth of Nelson high school volleyball was highlighted at the South Island Junior Championships in Christchurch recently.
Nayland College won the tier one girls division, beating Christchurch Girls’ High School in the final with basketball star Emelia Ainley named the tournament MVP.
She went straight to Christchurch after flying back from Australia where she played for the New Zealand Under 15 side. There were 58 girls teams spread across four divisions at Pioneer Stadium.
Nelson College beat Gari 2-1 in the boys top grade with Sol Beaglehole awarded MVP across the 40 teams competing.
Volleyball Tasman chairman Brendan Crichton, who is also Nayland’s sports director, says the results highlighted the strength of the sport across the region.
Nayland and Nelson College also won gold in the beach volleyball tournament which was held adjacent to Pioneer Stadium.