Boys’ High finish second at junior indoor championships

All six teams representing the Taranaki region performed well at the 36th North Island Secondary Schools Junior Indoor Volleyball Championships played at the Bay Park Arena in Mt Maunganui, Tauranga, last week.

The New Plymouth Boys’ High School team recorded seven wins and two losses in their division three championship, losing narrowly twice to Matamata College both in tie-breaker three-set matches.

NPBHS won six games and lost one in pool play, beating Tikipunga High School (Whangarei) 2–0 in the semifinal before losing a close final to Matamata College 1–2 (25–23, 23–25, 13–15). The NPBHS second placing promotes a second Taranaki team to the Top 32 boys’ division next year.

Spotswood College boys playing in the Top 32 pool recorded two wins and a loss to progress to the division one championship.

After two wins and a loss in pool play, Spotswood lost a quarterfinal to Rangitoto College-A (North Harbour) 0–2 before going on to lose the playoff for fifth and sixth to Tauranga Boys’ College-A 1–2. This was the top Taranaki placing for the tournament.

New Plymouth Girls’ High School and Waitara High School both played in the Girls’ Top 32 division. NPGHS won all three pool games to progress to division one, while

Waitara HS with one win and two losses qualified for the division two championship.

NPGHS lost their quarterfinal to Orewa College 0–2, and went on to defeat Matamata College to finish in 13th place.

Waitara HS recorded two wins and a loss in division two pool play, lost their quarterfinal to Te Awamutu College 1–2 and went on to defeat Long Bay College (North Harbour) 2–0 to finish in fifth place.

The two Spotswood College girls’ teams contested the large division three championship and recorded some close results. The A team finished in 13th place and the B team in 21st place.

The NPBHS second placing promotes a second Taranaki team to the Top 32 boys’ division next year.