Last Week the Columba College Senior A Volleyball team travelled to Palmerston North for the 2021 Volleyball Nationals.

Columba started the tournament in a Division of 32 teams split into eight pools. The team beat Taradale High School 3-1, Rangi Ruru 3-2 and Waikato Diocesan 3-1 to finish the first round top of the pool. The top 16 teams then formed a new division and there was another round of pool games. Again Columba finished top of the pool beating Orewa College 3-1, Onewhero Area School 3-2 (came back to win from being down 2 sets) and Burnside High School B 3-2. 

Up next was the quarter final which was another tough 5 set game. Columba took the win 3-2 to proceed on to the semi-final against St Peter’s School Cambridge. The team started well but unfortunately lost 3-1. The St Peter’s School girls were really nice and friendly and we wished them all the best for the final. Obviously after 7 wins in a row the team were disappointed with the loss but at the same time proud of how they had played.

Friday was the play off for 3rd and 4th against Bishop Viard College. Another tight five set game. The girls put up a great fight but unfortunately lost 3-2 to finish the tournament 4th in their Division.

Over the year the team has improved so much and the team spirit has been great. At the Nationals the girls played outstanding and the team showed great strength never giving up coming from behind to win several games. Nationals is an awesome experience playing two games a day (some of which went for over two hours) over five days against very good competition.

To end the tournament the girls got to relax and enjoy mixing with the other teams at the tournament social. Columba’s theme for the social was tradies.

This tournament concluded the main volleyball season of the year for the Senior A and the girls came away with a total of 22 wins and only 6 losses from four tournaments. Coming 4th in their division is the best the Columba College Senior A volleyball team has ever done at Nationals.

The team could not have achieved these great results without our dedicated coach, Will White, and fabulous manager, Dawn Hope. Thank you for making the final tournament so much fun and one the girls will never forget.