Volleyball: Captain Jo plays through the pain

Captain Jo Lucas made a courageous return from a knee injury to lead her Napier team to the only upset on day one of the national volleyball club championships in Hawke's Bay yesterday.
Lucas collected the injury as her side opened their division two women's campaign with a 3-0 loss to third seeds South Auckland at the Hastings Sports Centre. Less than three hours later and after a physio visit Lucas returned to the court to make a significant contribution to Napier's 3-0 win against third seeds Hutt Hawks.
"Jo was limping a bit last night but I'm sure she will be good to go when we take the court this afternoon," said Napier stalwart Maria Barnett, the only member of the Napier side to play when Hawke's Bay last hosted the nationals back in 1990.
"Jo is pretty tough and won't want to miss too many games in the nationals after being injury-free all season," said Barnett.
Napier were to play the winless Eastern side from the South Island this afternoon.
"They are a team of youngsters so may be a bit fitter than us ... but we don't take any team lightly," added Barnett.
Polly Hunt stepped up well when Lucas left the court yesterday and fellow former Taradale High School player Gemma Carlisle and Woodford House product Bailey Gair were others to impress for Napier.
The 40-team nationals will continue at the Hastings Sports Centre and Taradale's Pettigrew-Green Arena until Saturday. All four top seeds in the men's and women's first divisions recorded two wins yesterday.
Defending men's champions Shirley of Christchurch, including former Taradale High School player Simon Petersen, one of four New Zealand reps in the team, beat 12th seeds Nelson Pine 3-1 and Measina Spikers by the same score. Last year's runners-up Harbour Raiders beat Hutt Hawks 3-1 and Waitakere Rebels 3-0.
In women's division one play last year's finalists, Manukau South and New Zealand Institute of Sport both finished yesterday's play unbeaten. The only threat to their semifinal chances from pool A is likely to come from Palmerston North's Massey who had a thrilling 3-2 victory against Harbour Raiders.
In pool B second seeds Scorpions A from Dunedin and fourth seeds Tauranga had two comfortable victories. Tauranga appeared the more polished and will be a threat in tomorrow's semifinals.