Volleyballers impress

The sport of volleyball is becoming quite popular in Kaikoura.

A community tournament on Monday nights has proved very attractive and now a group of Kaikoura High School girls have made the grade in Marlborough.

During the holidays four students, Louarna Matenga, Alex Cuff, Victoria Syme and Amber Priddle went to Pioneer Stadium in Christchurch to represent Tasman in the under-15 development side and each one came away with an award.

There were six teams in the section and they each played five games.

This was an achievement in itself for the girls as, although they were used to basketball and had played volleyball for a year or two, they had only started training just before the competition.

This was the first time Kaikoura players had made it to the rep team in volleyball and the girls say they worked well as a team and got better the more they played.

With two hitters and two setters between them they were awarded for their efforts. Syme was named best spiker, Priddle best captain and best defensive player, Cuff best server and Matenga most improved.

Priddle was also awarded a certificate as being a player to look out for in the future.

The girls help out on Monday evenings with the community tournament, held at the school, in order to raise funds to assist them in attending other tournaments and they are looking forward to the South Island junior tournament which is coming up in Timaru. They will be playing again this weekend in Blenheim at the Tasman Volleyball junior invitational tournament which they are also stoked about.

It is not only the playing they are keen on – they are talking about attending a refereeing course and put much of their enthusiasm down to teacher Glynis Hanley, who they says inspired them to try it out.

Now they are hooked and dedicated to improving and continuing the fundraising to allow them the opportunities to get more experience and travel to all the upcoming tournaments.

Kaikoura High School is always on the lookout for coaching assistants, not just for volleyball but a range of sports.

If you think you have what it takes, contact Jo Thorne or Glynis Hanley so that Kaikoura's promising young players can continue to thrive.

- © Fairfax NZ News