Hamilton Press

On the ball at champs

- INDOOR VOLLEYBALL

Boys teams from the Waikato region led the way on the opening day of the 50th NZ Secondary School Volleyball Championsh­ips, being played in Palmerston North this week.

Hamilton Boys’ High School, runners-up in the recent Waikato championsh­ips, started the day with a clear-cut win over Riccarton High, from Christchur­ch.

The Hamilton team had a much better attacking game than their South Island opponents, but made a few mistakes along the way before winning in three sets.

In the following match, neighbours Hillcrest High School, the Waikato Champions, had an even more emphatic win over Whangarei Boys’ High School.

They are hoping to win the Premier Division and win a place back in the elite Honours Division for the region in 2019.

Waikato’s girls teams all a tougher time, with champions Matamata College losing 3-1 to Mount Maunganui College in the Honours Division, while Cambridge High School and Te Aroha College lost their opening matches in the Premier Section, and newcomers St Paul’s were overwhelme­d in three sets in their first ever match at this event in the Challenger Section.

Waikato girls runners-up Hillcrest High School were the only female winners from the region in the first round, with a three-set win over Auckland Girls Grammar, made a little tougher than it ought to have been with a number of serving and serve reception errors.

Hillcrest hopes to grab a top 3 position in the Premier Division to earn a second spot for the region in the 2019 Honours division.

-Dave Macpherson

 ??  ?? Hamlton Boys’ High School’s Jaenyn Paama (No.10) gets one through the defence of Riccarton High in their opening match of the Secondary Schools Volleyball Nationals in Palmerston North on Monday. In support is Thomas Falekaono.
Hamlton Boys’ High School’s Jaenyn Paama (No.10) gets one through the defence of Riccarton High in their opening match of the Secondary Schools Volleyball Nationals in Palmerston North on Monday. In support is Thomas Falekaono.
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