Hannah reaches new volleyball heights

Hannah Manihera-Double been selected for the NZ under-18 girls volleyball team. Photo/Ben Fraser

The strength of volleyball at Western Heights High School has been underlined once again with the selection of another New Zealand representative.

Year 12 student Hannah Manihera-Double, 16, has been selected in the New Zealand under-18 team to contest the hugely competitive Asian Youth Girls Volleyball Championships in Chongqing, China from March 5-13.

She got the call confirming her place in the squad during a break in training at school.

"I got the call in a drinks break and all you could hear was me screaming and doing cartwheels around the gym."

Like many students at the school she was drawn into the volleyball programme in her first year, and has flourished.

"To be honest, I didn't really want to start playing it, but the volleyball coach [Roger Ngatai] had seen my height and thought I'd be good."

Hannah stands 1.82m tall, and while she has also played representative netball and the traditional Maori sport of ki o rahi, she said in terms of preference, volleyball just shaded it.

"There's a lot to love about volleyball, how intense it gets after long rallies. And it's a team sport and I love being part of a team. But smashing the ball is the best feeling about it - winning a point after a perfect hit is a mean feeling."

Western Heights' head of volleyball Eugene Bogun said Hannah's aggression was a feature of her play.

"She hits the ball hard and I think it surprises people how aggressive she is - and she works pretty hard on the court, never gives up and has a great attitude."

Bogun said Hannah's fitness had improved a lot over the past year and her selection was a signal she was reaping the rewards from her hard work.

Trials were before Christmas, and Bogun said he knew Hannah was "always on the radar".

Being called into the New Zealand team is a first for Hannah, although she has played overseas in the North Island under-16 girls volleyball team that represented New Zealand and came second at the Australian Junior Volleyball Championship in Coomera on the Gold Coast.

She was also part of the Western Heights High School senior A team that was runner-up in last year's national secondary schools volleyball tournament.

Also in the New Zealand squad is best friend Tymara Cox of Tauranga's Otumoetai College, with the pair also eyeing the possibility of teaming up to play beach volleyball later in the year.

New Zealand is one of three teams from Oceania among 12 teams competing, and are drawn with Japan and Samoa in their pool. The top four teams qualify for the 2017 World Youth Championships.

Hannah said she knew little about China or Chongqing.

"I know we face one of the top seeds [Japan] on the first day and that's all we've been focusing on really," she said.

"But I'm so excited already, I've started packing and I can't wait to go."

Her preference and aptitude for volleyball has seen her sights set on a sports scholarship at a US college.

"But first of all I need to focus on school work - which I'm doing okay in I think."

Hannah is fundraising and looking for sponsorship to find the $4250 needed to get to China.