Volleyball: Tauranga Boys off to good start

Joshua Dumper (11) and Rhys Hamilton (10) from Tauranga Boys' College block a spike from Lincoln High School. Photo / Julie Fitzgerald

The New Zealand Secondary Schools (NZSS) national volleyball competition is under way at Arena Manawatu in Palmerston North.

The competition is hosting 155 teams from all over New Zealand and seven from Australia, with 16 of the 33 Bay of Plenty teams in division one honours grade.

Western Bay schools have made good starts. Tauranga Boys' College, who are ranked No2 for the senior boys, will be aiming to continue their two-year running streak.

They are on course to achieve this so far with two convincing wins, 3-0 and 3-1 consecutively against Lincoln High School and St Patrick's College.

In the girls' top division Otumoetai College A have also started well.

The NZSS has attracted 1900 players, 450 officials and coaches, and estimated 1000 supporters and parents offering their help.

This is the biggest secondary indoor schools' sports event held in New Zealand.

Arena Manawatu's 19 courts and one court at the International Pacific College will be at fever pitch for the week.

Paul Cameron, Volleyball New Zealand chief executive officer, is in charge of the 47th national schools tournament.

"It's one of the biggest sporting events coming into the city and certainly from a youth point of view it's the biggest in New Zealand, he said.

With internet streaming of matches available for the fourth year, parents and fans from around New Zealand can watch their teams from all over the world.

-Western Bay results: Day 1:

Boys' division 1: Tauranga Boys' A bt Saint Patrick's Coll 3-1, Mt Maunganui Coll bt New Plymouth HS 3-0, Otumoetai Coll A bt Shirley HS 3-1, Te Puke HS bt Glendowie Coll 3-0, Tauranga A bt Lincoln 3-0, Mt Maunganui bt Marlborough 3-0, Otumoetai A bt Rutherford 3-0.

Division 2: Tauranga Boys' B bt Trident HS B 3-0, Otumoetai Coll Black bt Fraser HS 3-0, Bethlehem Coll bt Takapuna Grammar 3-0, Otumoetai Coll Green bt Cashmere HS 3-1.

Girls division 1: Bethlehem Coll A bt Westlake GHS 3-2, Otumoetai Coll B bt Tarawera HS 3-1, Otumoetai Coll A bt Matamata Coll 3-0, Mt Maunganui Coll bt Christchurch GHS 3-1, Rangitoto Coll A bt Otumoetai Coll C 3-0, Tauranga GC A bt Havelock North HS 3-0.

Division 2: Rangitoto Coll B bt Wellington GC 3-0, Otumoetai Coll D bt Taradale HS 3-0, Tauranga GC B bt Gisborne GHS 3-0, Wellington East GC bt Aquinas Coll 3-0, Trident HS A bt Te Puke HS 3-0.

-Full results: volleyballnz.org.nz