Women grab title with a trouncing

The Harbour Raiders women’s volleyball team completely outclassed defending champions Tauranga to claim their first New Zealand Club Championship title.

The two clubs have clashed four times this season and Harbour Raiders were comprehensive 3-0 (25-23, 25-22, 25-13) winners in the final of the NZCT 47th Volleyball Club Championship in Mt Maunganui.

Local girls Danielle Quigley, Annalise Vukets, Imogen Francis and captain Charlotte Joy helped lead the team to the title.

Quigley starred in a great team performance, with power spiking and deft touches at the net.

Her two young teammates, both still at Westlake Girls’ High School, setter Vukets and 1.88m net blocker Francis held their nerves to play their key roles exceptionally well.

Joy and Aneta Buckley remained consistent on the spike, and specialist libero Abbie Meredith received the serve very well and made some spectacular pick-ups in the back court.

Harbour Raiders men’s team lost to Nelson Pine 1-3 (23-25, 22-25, 25-14, 19-25).

Nelson’s Australian imports, Ben Loft and Josh Thorpe, proved to be the winning difference with a great blocking display at the net.

The Harbour men, which included former Rangitoto College players Johann Timmer and Mitch Hallett, and former Glenfield College student Alani Nicklin, were chasing their seventh title since 1992, but ended up with their fourth silver in the last five years.