National Club Championships
SLT Kim Hamilton (Navy) high fives CPL Kelly Purdie (Air Force) as a confidence boost, prior to the start of the NZDF Women’s match. AC Aimee Wright (Air Force) in the back ground looks on. OH-07-0589-39-tn.jpg.
The New Zealand Defence Force Men’s and Women’s Volleyball Teams took on the very best of New Zealand’s Volleyball Clubs at the Volleyball New Zealand National Club Championships held in Palmerston North over 22 – 25 August.
LT Glen Whitton (NZDF Volleyball Chairperson/ Player)
A training camp was held at Ohakea, the weekend prior to the tournament. This gave the NZDF teams a chance to practice combinations, rotations and piecing together court play with tactical moves before the National Championships. The teams consisted of 10 men and 11 women from across the Defence Force. This year the women’s team were looking to improve on the Division Two 5th place finish gained in 2006. While the men’s team was aiming to achieve higher than their one win gained in the 2006 Championships.
Day 1
South Auckland Women’s player drives the ball over the defensive block of LCPL Aiga Mailata (Army). OH-07-0589-38-tn.jpg.
The NZDF men started the competition against the 6th seed team Sparta from Auckland. The game was a sign of things to come, playing a top eight team in the country. The men’s team played hard with a lot of spirit, eventually losing 3 - 0. The next game for the NZDF men’s team was against the Pioneer team from Christchurch (who had no fewer than 4 NZ representatives and was the 2006 Runners Up). The men’s team came out fighting, pushing the Pioneer team hard in the second set, with the Pioneer team winning 3 – 0. These results put the NZDF men’s team in the 13th – 18th play off pool. The goal from here was to make the top 16 in New Zealand.
In the women’s competition the NZDF women’s team took on the 2nd seed team from the NZ Institute of Sport (who had no fewer than 5 NZ representatives). It was a hard hitting start to the competition for the women’s team, and they lost the match 3 – 0. (The NZIS team went on to win the 2007 Championships). The second game for the NZDF women’s team was against another tough opponent from Tauranga. The game was a real challenge for the women, and they were beaten 3 – 0.
Day 2
CPL Blake Northover (Air Force) about to spike the ball with FGOFF Rich Coburn (Air Force) looking on against South Auckland. OH-07-0589-58-tn.jpg.
Began with the NZDF men taking on Saintz from Christchurch, it was a very slow start and the men were beaten 3 - 0. In the evening the men’s team took on Otago Vikings (the only team they beat in 2006) and came up triumphant with a 3 - 1 win.
In the women’s draw the NZDF team played Marlborough and went down fighting 3 - 0. In their final game, against Scorpions from Dunedin the women lead out 2 - 0 playing some very good volleyball. However the NZDF women succumbed to a spirited Scorpion team and eventually lost 3 – 2, in a torrid two hour encounter.
Day 3
After their victory over Vikings, the NZDF men came out confident and took on South Auckland B in a closely matched contest going down 3 - 1. Later in the day the men’s team took on Ngamotu from Taranaki and in a 5 set, two hour game of Volleyball, overcame a 9 – 2 deficit in the 5th set to come back and beat Ngamotu 15 – 12.
For the NZDF women it was another tough day on court with losses to South Auckland and North Harbour, leaving them a good challenge ahead on the final day of competition.
Final Day
On the final day, NZDF Sports Chairman Colonel Dave Russell and NZDF Sports Secretary Dave Foley supported both the men and women’s teams during their final games. NZDF men played Hornby for 15th place making the game hard for themselves with another 5 set, two hour marathon. The NZDF men’s team eventually overpowered Hornby winning the game 3 - 2.
The NZDF Women’s team celebrates winning a set. OH-07-0589-32-tn.jpg.
In the women’s draw, in a play-off for 19th spot against Sparta from Auckland, the women unfortunately went down 3 - 0.
The NZDF Sports Chairman chose Most Valuable Players from the final games with the prizes going to AC Hayley Ireland (Air Force) and LT Glen Whitton (Army).
Special thanks must go to NZDF Sport for the support given to NZDF Volleyball for the National Club Championships 2007. The hospitality shown from Ohakea towards the NZDF teams was very much appreciated. Also thank you to the Men’s Coach F/SGT Naresh Bhula (Air Force) and Women’s Coach W/O Rob Chee (Air Force) for their dedication and time to both teams, and FLTLT Craig Searle for his perseverance towards training of the Men’s team.
The next inter-Service Volleyball Tournament will be hosted by Navy in April 2008. With another possible opportunity to take on the countries best at Nationals in August 2008. If you are keen to play Volleyball at a competitive level, then contact your Service Volleyball Rep. RNZN - POPTI Peter Hodge, NZ ARMY - LT Glen Whitton, RNZAF - FLTLT Craig Searle.