College’s 90s net dominance recognised
Nelson College’s golden volleyball run in the 1990s has been recognised, named New Zealand’s top boys school for the decade.
The accolade was based on the performance of a programme that yielded three national titles, MVP players, one silver medal and three bronze medals from 1992 to 1999.
The award was presented by Volleyball New Zealand at its 50th jubilee dinner in Auckland on April 25th.
Coach Neil Anderson, who has been at the forefront of the Nelson College programme for more than 25 years, accepted the award on behalf of all the players who had been involved in the throughout the decade.
He said he was fortunate to have a number of outstanding young men in the programme and that a number of them went on to higher honours.
The dinner coincided with the World Masters Games, which gave Anderson an opportunity to catch up with some of his old charges.
Among them Paul Foster, and the Von Reiche brothers Tuna and Fata, who had just won a teams gold at the tournament.
‘‘They’re now world champions for their age group for indoor volleyball - so the legacy lives on a little bit,’’ Anderson said.
Teaching and family commitments have limited Anderson’s coaching involvement in recent years, including stepping down from his New Zealand under 20 role that he held for seven years. However, Anderson is committed to maintaining the school’s standing as a national powerhouse.
‘‘Since 2000 I’ve been able to keep a reasonably successful programme going but maybe not with the same intensity we had in the 90s.’’
Anderson said the school’s junior team has won the South Island title three times in the last four years, and he believed another golden era for the seniors was ’’a couple of years away’’.
Anderson’s own sporting endeavours revolved around the New Zealand staples of rugby and cricket.
However, an invitation to assist with volleyball at the old YMCA at Bridge St started his long association with the sport.
Anderson said he was fortunate to have good local contacts in developing his skills, including fellow life member Ross Baldwin.
‘‘Volleyball’s a game of brains in the end - there’s more to it than meets the eye - it’s more a mental test of where you’re going to put the ball.’’