With 27,000 secondary school students playing volleyball in New Zealand, it's clear that the sport is thriving.

This year’s National Volleyball Championships in Palmerston North were no exception, with 98 girls' and 100 boys' teams competing for top honors.

Our team had an incredible week, playing nine intense games against schools from all over the country. We were blown away by the support from our caregivers, who followed our progress online and cheered us on from afar. Here is a summary of our results. 

• Game 1 Win 3-0 vs. Havelock North  

• Game 2 Win 3-0 vs. Otago Girls' High

• Game 3 Win 3-0 vs. Otumoetai College

• Game 4 Win 3-2 vs. Trident High School

• Game 5 Win 3-0 vs. Tauranga Girls' High

• Game 6 Win 3-1 vs. One Tree Hill

• Game 7 Win 3-1 vs. Western Heights

• Game 8 Semi Final 2-3 vs. St Margarets      

A standout moment was our incredible fourth-place finish out of 98 girls' teams—a phenomenal achievement! Our semi-final against St Margaret’s College was a nail-biter, with the game going down to the wire in a 2-3 loss. St Margaret’s went on to win the tournament, proving just how close we were to the top.

A special congratulations to Mischa Laulala and Khonnah Vanilau, who were named in the National Tournament Team—an outstanding individual accomplishment!

Huge thanks go to Steph de Vere, Mr. Bilsbury, and Mr. Norton for dedicating a whole week to coaching and managing the team. Mr. Norton’s guidance over the years has shaped not just our skills, but also our character, allowing us to achieve so much.

Well done, team!