Volleyball: Western Heights let title slip

Western Heights High School has gained the silver medal at the New Zealand Secondary Schools Volleyball Championships held in Palmerston North.

The side, who were unbeaten all year leading into the tournament and the defending champions, were unable to maintain the winning streak as they were beaten by a determined Tauranga Boys' College on Friday.

Tauranga took the three-set victory 26-24, 25-17 and 25-19.

Western Heights High School co-coach Eugene Bogun said the boys were disappointed to stumble at the last hurdle but were beaten by a better team on the night.

"The boys did well to get to the final. They didn't really play their best volleyball down there but they still had enough on court to obviously get there [to the final] and beat some good teams.

"They're really gutted to be honest. They put a lot of work in not just this year but for the last five years ... But they just didn't really turn up [for the final] and Tauranga were too good on the night. It's just one of those things that happens. It's just like the All Blacks I suppose, they've done that a few times before."

Bogun said there has always been a great rivalry between the two sides - with each team claiming nine titles each leading into the tournament he knew a final between the two sides would come down to who wanted it more.

"I just think we weren't aggressive enough in what we were doing. You know serving, hitting, blocking defensively.

"They were a lot more aggressive than we were and just dominated certain parts of the game. Especially in their serve, they served a lot harder than we did and were able to get a few points together," Bogun said.

"Because in the first set it was point for point and we actually had set point first and we weren't able to close it out."

Bogun was nevertheless proud of what the side achieved, especially for those who were in their last year at school and had played at their last secondary school nationals.

"We've got three Year 11 boys who will be here next year but the rest will probably leave school at the end of the year. So there will be a bit of rebuilding happening with our A team. But we've got some good young fullas coming through as well."

Two of the players, Taylor Kahu and Junior Taia, were named in the tournament team.

In the senior girls division one final, Otumoetai College were crowned national champions when they beat Christchurch Girls' High School in a four-set thriller 25-20, 22-25, 28-26 and 25-20.