Our Senior A Volleyball team recently returned from the National Championships, having earned their place among the top 32 schools in the country — a significant achievement in itself and a reflection of the hard work and commitment shown throughout the season.
Drawn into a highly competitive pool, the boys faced some of the strongest programmes in New Zealand, including former national champions Manurewa and Trident. While both matches resulted in losses, the team competed with real determination and showed they belonged at that level. There were no easy games, and the boys rose to the challenge in every set.
Highlights of the tournament included well-deserved wins against Middleton Grange and Te Kauwhata. Across the week, several matches were decided by very narrow margins. With a couple of those results going the other way, the team could easily have climbed several places higher on the final ladder.
In the end, the boys finished 30th in the country — a placing to be proud of given the quality and depth of competition. While there may be some disappointment about how close they came in a few matches, there is no doubt they represented the school exceptionally well. They supported one another, played with resilience, and continued to grow as a team throughout the tournament.
The team was made up of: Ezra H, Angus H, Jonty T, Ben G, Will R, Archie M, Lachie D, Jonny H, Yoko F, and captain William C.
A huge thank you must go to Bonnie Gradwell for her outstanding organisation behind the scenes, ensuring everything ran smoothly, and to Ella for her inspirational coaching and leadership across the campaign.
The National Championships itself was an incredible event, with over 200 teams and more than 2,000 students involved. The finals, for both boys and girls, were of an exceptional standard — truly resembling an Olympic-level spectacle and providing a fitting showcase of school volleyball in New Zealand.
Well done to all involved on a fantastic campaign.
Open Event Registration - Interested in enrolling?
Employment opportunities - click if you're interested in working at McGlashan.