A triple double... that's really tricky

The three sets of twins are (from left) Chanelle Egelani, Lynda Granwal,Tekura Moeka'a, Rima'ati Moeka'a, Sharna Granwal and Michelle Egelani. Photo / Richard Robinson

Rudy Aso came up with a cunning plan when he took over as coach of the Auckland Girls' Grammar premier volleyball team in 2006.

He made the 12 players train in playing uniforms. He didn't tell them why he had introduced the rule, but he had his reasons.

The team contained three sets of twins, and the numbered jerseys were the only way the new coach could tell his players apart.

Chanelle and Michelle Egelani, Lynda and Sharna Granwal and Rima'ati and Tekura Moeka'a are the backbone of the AGGS team who, until beaten 3-1 by Mt Albert Grammar on Thursday night, had again dominated the senior central zone division one competition this season.

Defending the title they won last year, they were unbeaten without dropping a set until the loss to MAGS.

Now in his fourth season, Aso says the sisters' personalities also help him identify his players, as do the positions they play.

"They still play tricks on me, especially if I'm telling one player off when in fact it is her sister I'm talking to," said Aso, 38 and a former assistant coach of the national men's team.

"But if I find out, I penalise them by making them do five or 10 press-ups."

The Egelani twins are Aso's nieces, but even they can be a challenge.

Sisterly love and family fun are very much part of school and sporting life for the 17-year-olds, who are in their seventh-form year.

The Egelani twins are Samoan, the Moeka'as enrolled at the inner city school in 2006 after arriving from the Cook Islands, and the Granwal sisters have a Laotian mother and Kiwi father.

Peter Granwal is as confused as anyone when watching his daughters in action. admitting even he can't tell them apart on court.

His daughter Lynda is back as captain after first leading the team in 2007.

It was not until Lynda and her sister arrived at AGGS that they first tried their hand at volleyball.

"We played basketball on a small scale at Ellerslie Intermediate and have continued that here," said Lynda Granwal.

Of the difficulty the team's double-ups cause, Lynda admits. "Most of the time I can tell them apart, even though we all look alike."