NZ girls thwart Australian sweep

MAIL PHOTO/COLIN SMITH

READY, SET: Ben Wilkinson sets a return during the New Zealand versus Australia final of the trans-Tasman secondary schools volleyball tournament at the Trafalgar Centre.

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Queensland prospered although New Zealand shared the international spoils when the trans-Tasman secondary schools volleyball series ended on Thursday at Nelson's Trafalgar Centre.

Queensland walked away from the four-day tournament with both the boys and girls' titles. But Australia missed the sweep when the New Zealand girls won their test in a five-set thriller, leaving the Australian boys' team to wrap up the series with a 3-2 win over New Zealand.

The trans-Tasman competition involved teams from the North Island, South Island, Queensland and New South Wales, followed yesterday by test matches between the Australian and New Zealand representative teams.

The Queensland girls ended the tournament as the only unbeaten side although had to survive a tense five-setter against the North Island before claiming its second consecutive title. Down 1-2 to a competitive North Island side, the Queenslanders rallied strongly to win the final two sets and take the match 23-25 25-21 23-25 25-19 and 15-12.

Earlier in the day, the South Island had claimed third place with a 25-21 25-21 25-20 win over NSW.

There was a hint of irony, in the Australian girls' five-set loss to the Kiwis. Despite fielding eight Queenslanders in its 10-player test squad, Australia eventually capitulated to a Kiwi side that included significant contributions from three of Waimea College's South Island representatives Melissa Duff, Ashleigh Hancock and Rosa Friend.

New Zealand took the first two sets 25-16 25-22 before Australia won the next two 25-21 25-16 to take the match into a decisive fifth set. Australia survived two match points in an exciting climax before New Zealand sealed the contest 17-15. Duff was also named the tournament's best server.

In the boys' competition, Queenland took much less time to claim its first championship title although the North Island didn't concede its seven year reign without some resistance. Queensland won the first two sets 25-21 25-21 but had a fight on its hands in the third - the North Island taking it to 27-29 before the Australians secured the victory.

The South Island had ended its campaign on a disappointing note. After ending the first two days unbeaten with three wins, the South never won another game to eventually slump to fourth place after yesterday's 0-3 loss to NSW in the third and fourth playoff. The Australians won the match 25-21 25-21 25-20 to atone for its 2-3 loss to the South Island in round robin play.

With Queenslanders again dominating the Australian boys' test side, the ease with which it cruised through the first set for a 25-11 win suggested a comfortable night for the Australians. With Waimea College's Ben Wilkinson one of four South Islanders included in the New Zealand team, the Kiwis showed plenty of spirit to win an extended second set 29-27.

Australia rallied again to claim the third 25-20 but when New Zealand levelled again with a 25-18 win in the fourth, the prospects of a Kiwi test sweep became a reality. Australia held its nerve and executed at the crucial moments to win the final set 15-10.

- © Fairfax NZ News