Junior A team gets a serving of success
Matamata College junior A volleyball team proved they’re the best, by winning the Waikato Junior Secondary Schools tournament.
The team of Year 9-10 students, coached by Andrew Kilham, were the winners from the tournament of 24 teams, which concluded last week.
Teams competed for eight weeks in Hamilton, playing 16 games in total.
Kilham says the team improved as each week went by.
‘‘We trained well through each week. We lost a few matches in round robin play but we were able to bounce back and defeat them in later rounds.
‘‘They are a hardworking group, who deserve their success.’’
From there they went on to face Te Awamutu in the finals, with a score of 25-17 in the first set, and 26-24 in the second set.
The win earned Matamata College their third successive championship.
Kilham says although victorious in the semi-finals, they didn’t play as well as they could have, but came back stronger in the final.
Setter Mila Gandeza said she feels the team dominated because they didn’t underestimate their opponents.
‘‘We respected our opponents and we were confident we could play well as a team.’’
Mila and team mate Te Aorere Wharawhara were named in the all-star six.
Mila was also named the most valuable player of the whole tournament, by the executive members of the Waikato Volleyball association, an accolade she also received last year.
From here the team will join 98 other North Island teams at the North Island championship in Wellington on November 21.
At this stage Kilham says he is confident that they will play well but is reluctant to make any predictions.