Volleyball: Wins for three WHHS teams in emphatic start to champs

Only about 20 per cent of school teams are making the trek to the two championships. Photo / Thinkstock

Western Heights High School is leading the way again, upholding a dominant reputation at the national junior volleyball championships.

In the first day of competition in Tauranga, three WHHS teams were successful.

Volleyball New Zealand's Junior Schools Championships has 153 teams and more than 1500 players competing in North and South Island events, held in Tauranga and Christchurch.

The popularity of the event is underpinned by the growth of participation at the local level.

Only about 20 per cent of school teams are making the trek to the two championships.

As anticipated, Bay of Plenty teams lead the North Island event after the first two rounds, with Otumoetai, Bethlehem, Mount Maunganui and Tauranga Girls' College A teams each leading their sections with two wins each.

Other North Island Girls' teams to record two wins on the first day were Auckland's Rangitoto College and Manurewa High, Hamilton's Fraser High, Tikipunga High from Whangarei, Trident High of Whakatane, the Hutt Valley's Naenae College and guest Melbourne school Upwey High.

In the boys' division, Tauranga Boys', Bethlehem and Otumoetai College recorded two from two to head the pack, while Rotorua's Western Heights High showed what a dominant force they are in schoolboy volleyball, with their three teams all unbeaten after two games. Auckland's One Tree Hill and Orewa Colleges and Napier Boys' High also share the lead.