The top Bay of Plenty volleyball teams took contrasting paths to their moves up the ladder in Northern Zone League matches played in Hamilton on Saturday.
Mauao men disposed of both Hamilton and Waitakere Rebels in straight sets, to go four points clear of their challengers at the top ofthe table with only three matches to go.
Mauao face 2012 runners-up Sparta on Friday, again in Hamilton, followed by a road trip to Auckland in a fortnight to meet Harbour Raiders and South Auckland side Playaz, who beat the Bay team last time they met. Two wins from the three matches will likely secure top spot in the league.
By contrast, Tauranga women had to tough out two five-set matches against fellow 2012 national podium placegetters Manukau South and Hamilton to get the double victory they needed to jump into second place, and a potential top seeding in their pool for this year's club nationals. The tie-breaker set against Manukau South was particularly stressful for coach Stew Henderson, with his team surviving several match points before triumphing 22-20. In the Hamilton match, Tauranga survived a Hamilton fightback in the third and fourth sets to close out the tie-breaker set in a repeat of last month's home match. For the Bay women, setter Nicole Stanley (nee Yardley) stood out in both matches, making good choices for her spikers throughout the long rallies.
Northern Zone - 1st Division, in Hamilton and Auckland - Saturday June 22
Men: Hamilton b Tauranga 3-1 (25-20,28-30,25-16,25-23); Mauao b Waitakere Rebels 3-0 (25-15,25-10,25-21); Playaz b Diamonds 3-1 (27-25,25-27,25-19,26-24); Waitakere Rebels b Tauranga 3-0 (25-23, 25-10,25-21); Mauao b Hamilton 3-0 (25-22,25-17,25-15); Harbour Raiders b Tauranga 3-0 (25-21,25-10,25-11); Harbour Raiders b Hamilton 3-2 (23-25,25-23,21-25,25-21,15-13)
Women: Tauranga b Manukau South 3-2 (26-28,25-20,25-11,15-25,22-20); Sparta b Westforce Waitakere 3-1 (25-19,21-25,25-21,25-9); Tauranga b Hamilton 3-2 (25-16,25-23,26-28,18-25,15-11); Hamilton b Manukau South 3-1 (28-30,25-16,25-15,25-16); Harbour Raiders b Saints 3-1 (25-15,23-25,25-21,25-10); Sparta b Saints 3-0 (25-18,25-19,25-19); Harbour Raiders b Westforce Waitakere 3-0 (25-21,25-22,25-16)
