Volleyball: Bay sides open with double success

Tauranga's Dan White serves in the win over East Coast at ASB Arena. Photo/Andrew Warner

Local teams have started the Northern Zone Volleyball League season in style with comfortable wins at ASB Arena.

In the men's section, last season's cellar dwellers Tauranga produced two quality wins over Auckland opponents East Coast Thunder and Waitakere Rebels, while the strong Mauao team swept both of the their matches against their big city rivals 3-0.

Harbour Raiders had two 3-0 wins over South Auckland opposition, while perennial top-side Sparta struggled in losing both matches at the Otara Recreation Centre.

Volleyball Tauranga spokeswoman Jenny Kirk was thrilled with the results - especially those of the young men's team who struggled last season.

"It probably was a bit of a surprise they performed so well, but you don't really know about the level of competition until you get there," Kirk said.

The top men's team, who are backed by a B side this year, need to finish in the top four of the competition to qualify automatically for first division nationals.

In women's matches, 2013 national champions Tauranga, Mauao, and 2013 bronze medallists Hamilton all won their double-headers.

Results: Northern Zone Volleyball League, Saturday, May 3, matches in Tauranga and Auckland

1st Division

Men: Playaz bt Hamilton 3-0 (25-17,25-18,25-20); Mauao bt Waitakere Rebels 3-0 (25-13, 25-20, 25-18); Tauranga bt East Coast Thunder 3-0 (25-18, 25-21, 25-16); Mauao b Playaz 3-0 (25-13,25-16,25-21); Hamilton bt East Coast Thunder 3-1 (23-25, 25-23, 25-17, 25-17); Harbour Raiders b South Auckland 3-0 (25-20, 26-24, 25-17); South Auckland bt Sparta 3-1 (25-20, 25-18, 21-25, 25-21); Harbour Raiders bt Sparta 3-0 (25-23, 25-22, 28-26); Tauranga bt Waitakere Rebels 3-0 (25-17,25-20,25-22)

Women: Mauao bt AUT Titans 3-1 (25-12,26-28,25-19,26-24); Tauranga bt East Coast Thunder 3-1 (25-18, 25-13, 22-25, 25-14); Hamilton bt Westforce Waitakere 3-0 (25-9,25-20,25-12); Mauao b Westforce Waitakere 3-0 (26-24,25-17,29-27); Hamilton bt East Coast Thunder 3-0 (25-19, 25-19, 25-16); Harbour Raiders bt South Auckland 3-0 (25-20,25-14,25-19); South Auckland bt Manukau South 3-0 (25-12,25-22,25-14); Harbour Raiders bt Sparta 3-0 (25-18,25-22,25-21); Sparta bt Manukau South 3-0 (25-23,25-20,25-17); Tauranga bt AUT Titans 3-0 (25-6,25-20,25-9)

2nd Division

Men: Rotovegas bt EBoP Spartans 3-0 (25-14,25-17,25-18); Mauao Black bt Hamilton Juniors 3-0 (25-13,25-9,25-10); Te Puke All Stars bt Tauranga B 3-1 (27-25,25-27,26-24,25-20); Rotovegas bt Hamilton Juniors 3-0 (25-17,27-25,25-15); ABoP Spartans bt Tauranga B 3-1 (12-25,25-23,25-20,25-18); Mauao Black bt Te Puke All Stars 3-2 (21-25,25-12,29-31,25-17,15-8)

Women: Tauranga B bt Rotovegas B 3-0 (25-2,25-9,25-8); Playaz TGC b Hamilton C 3-2 (25-23,23-25,25-16,24-26,15-6); Hamilton Juniors bt Rotovegas A 3-0 (25-16,25-19,27-25); Tauranga C bt Hamilton B 3-0 (25-22,25-20,25-14); Hamilton Juniors b Hamilton B 3-1 (23-25,26-24,25-20,25-23); Tauranga B bt Hamilton C 3-0 (25-16,25-15,25-18); Playaz TGC bt Rotovegas B 3-0 (25-4,25-5,25-12); Tauranga C bt Rotovegas A 3-2 (25-18,22-25,19-25,25-12,15-9); Tauranga B bt Hamilton Juniors 3-1 (25-14,20-25,25-23,25-12)