Volleyballers storm past all obstacles in unbeaten run

Division 1 and 2 titles head to TA College

The two Te Awamutu College Senior Girls volleyball teams had a successful run of play over the six Saturdays of the season. Despite both teams being hit by player unavailability due to Covid, they were able to call on former senior and current Year 10 players to fill positions and managed to field teams each week.

Both teams were jointly coached by former girls’ captain Kimiora Cooper and retired teacher Keith Bain.

The premier team, playing in Division 1, went into the final weekend unbeaten in their 10 games and faced a strong Hillcrest side in the semifinal.

TAC did not start well and played an uncharacteristic, mistake-ridden first set to lose 25-17, but came back to win the next three sets to advance to the final against the other unbeaten team, Matamata.

This game was always going to be close as Matamata have been the strong volleyball school and TAC’s nemesis for so many years.

The Te Awamutu girls displayed their power hitting through captain Maude Rewha and vice-captain Karlie Alexander and managed to defeat Matamata in three sets 25-21, 25-23, 25-21 to become Division 1 champions for real this time (TAC were awarded the title in 2020 after the initial Covid-19 lockdown prevented the final day of play, Te Awamutu were the only unbeaten team).

Maude, Karlie and Sienna Sanders were named in the tournament team and Maude was also deservedly named Player of the Tournament.

Brooke Penny filled in for two weeks for players out with Omicron.

Of the 10 girls in the team, eight missed at least one weekend through being out with the virus.

The second team, the Senior Girls A team playing in Division 2, also progressed to the final weekend with an unbeaten 10-win record.

They too were often cut short of players with all players out at some stage due to Covid.

They appreciated the return of Libby Haynes, Dareeya Mickell and Leah Ellis from the 2021 Junior Girls B team and Piata Newton who filled

in and contributed to the team’s continued success.

The semifinal against Sacred Heart was won easily by TAC but the final was a much harder struggle against Hamilton Girls’ High School, losing the first set 25-16 before recovering to win the second set 25-17.

TAC were always in front on points playing the third set but the final score, 15-13, reflected just how close the teams were.

The senior boys team began their season well and looked to be heading for a top four placing but

unfortunately had to default their last three weekends for a variety of reasons so finished last in their Division 1.

Photos / Supplied Te Awamutu College premier girls volleyball team — Waikato Secondary Schools Division 1 champions. Back row from right: Brooke Penny, Ciara McCullough, Baylee Pryke, Maude Rewha, Nevaeh Roberts, coach Kimiora Cooper. Front row from right: Sienna Sanders, Karlie Alexander, Georgina Rewha, Te Wehi Mareikura. Absent from photo regular team members: Amy Reid, Dayna-Azul Te Wake, Jasmin Rivera.

Te Awamutu College Senior A girls volleyball team — Waikato Secondary Schools Division 2 champions. Back row from right: coach Keith Bain, Dareeya Mickell, Kera Tervit, Piata Newton, Sarah Turner, Sophie Roycroft, coach Kimiora Cooper. Front row from right: Olivia Krippner, Nina Lugtu, Rona Rapana, Hannah McRostie. Regular players absent from final weekend: Jetta Kete.