The Trident High School Senior Boys A Volleyball team completed an outstanding week under coach Teimen Corporaal by making it to the final of the New Zealand Volleyball Championships held in Palmerston North.
The team grew in confidence as the tournament progressed. They played their best volleyball in the quarter final where they defeated Hillcrest High School 3 - 0 and in the semi final where they defeated Manurewa High School 3 - 0. A real strength of the team was the multiple attacking options available to the setter Kani Paniora. The teams ability to sideout was due to the speed of the middle attack offered by Maxwell Wharewera and Phoenix Ripaki Pugh and the powerful outside hitting displayed by Campbell Forsyth, Salem Tuaeu and Chicane Paniora.
Campbell Forsyth says he and the team are very proud of getting Silver. He says it was a good week and spirits were high. The team has played together for a while, they know each others strengths and weaknesses, and are good group of mates.
In the final it was a tight tussle but Rangitioto emerged deserving winners due to superior serving and serve receive .
A highlight was the naming of Kani Paniora, Salem Tuaeu and Campbell Forsyth in the 2021 NZ Secondary School Boys Tournament Team which is the top 10/12 players in NZ.
Several members of the Trident Volleyball team are trialling for the Bay u19 team which would see them head to Wellington for a tournament. They are hoping to win that tournament as they did for the u17 tournament 2 years ago.
We congratulate the team on their placing at the tournament and wish them all the best for their trials for further teams.