Rangitoto College win Australian schools volleyball tournament

The champion Rangitoto College boys’ team on the podium in Australia.

Rangitoto College’s volleyball success has again extended across the Tasman, with their premier boys winning the Australian secondary schools tournament last month.

First held in 1984, the Australia Volleyball Schools Cup describes itself as the “largest school-based sporting event in the Southern Hemisphere”, although the Tauranga-based AIMS Games might have something to say about that.

Last month’s Schools Cup attracted 529 volleyball teams from 164 schools to multiple Gold Coast venues. Rangitoto entered boys and girls’ teams in the top grades, the Open Honours division, which they last contested – and both won – in 2023.

Playing up to three games a day at the week-long tournament, the Rangitoto boys started with a 3-1 loss to Brisbane’s Nudgee College but won their next six 3-0 or 3-1 to advance to the second phase as group runners-up.

In the second group phase, Rangitoto lost to Australian Capital Territory school Lake Ginninderra 3-1 but secured the two wins required to qualify for the semi-finals.

Rangitoto avenged their earlier defeats by beating Nudgee 3-0 in the semi-finals, then Lake Ginninderra 3-1 after dropping the first set in the final.

The North Shore school’s win was particularly notable because Lake Ginninderra is located next to the Australia Volleyball Academy and attracts some of the country’s top teenage talent in the sport.

The boys’ team is managed by Josh Bullen and coached by former Rangitoto students Johann Timmer, a New Zealand representative, and Sam Bell, a doctor.

Joschua Shaller was named the division’s Most Valuable Player, captaining a team that also included Joseph Cha, Joshua Perks, Zane Lilburn, Kyson Norton, Kenai Stevenson, Riley Bull, Malekhkai Walker, Kenny Zhang, Zac Jensen and Seho Park.

“The Australian Schools Cup once again provided an amazing experience,” Timmer said. “What I really enjoyed was how the team connected as the tournament progressed. “The boys stepped up when it mattered most, particularly against a very strong Lake Ginninderra team, and showed real composure in those key moments.

“What summed it up for me was hearing the players say it was one of the best memories they’ve ever had. Special mention to the four seniors – Joschua Schaller, Josh Perks, Joseph Cha and Zane Lilburn – who graduated in December. We thank them for their contribution.”

In one key aspect, the Rangitoto girls’ campaign at the Schools Cup was the reverse of the boys. They won all eight games across two phases of pool play to qualify top for the semi-finals but then lost to teams they had earlier beaten – Brighton from Adelaide 3-1 and Craigslea from Brisbane 3-2 – to place fourth overall.

The girls’ team, which was coached by Adam Watson, managed by Jamie Sowter, and co-captained by Alice Bell and Devon Golaboski, also included Jasmine Rugg, Libby Cleaver, Jezariah Holmes, Natalie Campbell, Rehanrui Li, Grace Giles, Kiera Webster, Zaria Ruby, Molly Caunce and Sienna Hickling Crane.

Rangitoto has featured prominently in volleyball in recent years, winning both the New Zealand premier boys and girls’ titles in 2023. The girls successfully defended their national championship in 2024, while the boys were runners-up.

Both Rangitoto teams again made their national premier finals in March 2025 – the fifth in six years for the boys – but lost to Tauranga Boys’ College and St Margaret’s College from Christchurch.