Midlands volleyball championship review

FOCUSED: Tauranga volleyballer Zoe Walden in action. PHOTO/ANDREW WARNER

The third round of the Midlands Volleyball Championship was played at ASB Stadium in Tauranga on Saturday.

In the men's section Mauao Warriors Development were missing Daryl Lewis and Paora Morunga who were at the NZ men's training camp and they had to play probably two of their toughest opposition teams.

First up they lost 1-3 to Playaz Tauranga after winning the first set 29-27 before losing the next three sets.

Without their NZ players the team could not match the experience of Playaz Tauranga's Brad Takai and Allen Satiu. In their second game they again lost 1-3, this time to Hamilton A, who had a good weekend also beating Tauranga 3-0.

Mauao Warriors' second team also enjoyed a good day with two wins. Playaz Tauranga now remain the only unbeaten team with five wins.

In the women's section Hamilton B enjoyed two wins to lift them in the rankings.
Tauranga B beat Tauranga Development 3-1 in a closely contested and entertaining game. Tauranga B then went on to take a set off Hamilton A before going down 1-3.

Tauranga B now lose two of their younger players Rachel Stratton (from Bethlehem College) and Emma Hegarty (Otumoetai College) who head off on a Volleyball NZ Beach Development Tour of California to play in four tournaments over the next two weeks.

Mauao Warriors also enjoyed two wins and look likely to feature in the main match next weekend against Hamilton A.

Tauranga A enjoyed another two wins on Saturday, firstly beating a young and spirited Mauao Development team 3-0 before taking on Hamilton A in the game of the day.

In a pulsating match, enjoyed by a good crowd, Hamilton A took out the first set 27-25, with Tauranga not as accurate as normal, making too many unforced errors. This aspect of their play was tidied up in the next three sets allowing Tauranga to emerge 3-1 winners.

For Tauranga Steph Uttley, coming back after a year away from the sport, and young Emma Mabbott both played exceptionally well in a pleasing all round team performance.

The final round of Midlands games will be played at Fraser High School in Hamilton on Saturday.