Volleyball: Pair return to pip Tauranga

Tauranga's Beniece Douch goes up for a spike against North Harbour Raiders in the women's final of the volleyball national club championships at the ASB Arena. Photo / Andrew Warner

A pair of ex-Otumoetai College pupils returned to town to help top seeds North Harbour pip the Tauranga women in the final of the NZCT 47th Volleyball Club Championships.

Abbie Meredith and Anita Buckley, who both developed their games under the eye of Otumoetai College girls' and Tauranga women's coach Stu Henderson, were part of a team that had too many weapons for the hosts at ASB Arena on Saturday.

"That's what it's all about - our players go to other clubs and then you meet up with them at tournaments and they beat you, which isn't really allowed," he said.

Henderson admitted his rebuilding team had been outclassed in the straight sets victory in which Tauranga barely led.

"They basically had too much firepower and we were beaten by a better team on the night," he said. "You can't argue with that. We tried, they did some great chases and showed some great scrambling defence, which is all you can ask for. But if you're not quite good enough ... we probably lacked a little bit of experience."

The twin towers of Danielle Quigley and Imogen Francis proved too powerful at the net, with the various blocking schemes employed by Tauranga having only limited impact on their effectiveness.

It was the fourth time the two teams had met this season, with Tauranga winning only once.

Tauranga had earlier beaten Mauao Blues 3-0 in the semifinal.

Mauao Red - the local hope in the men's draw - were knocked out in the semifinal by eventual champions Richmond Mall Nelson Pines.

National Club Championships

Finals:

1st Division Men: Richmond Mall Nelson Pine b Harbour Raiders A 3-1 (25-23, 25-22, 15-25, 25-19).
1st Division Women: Harbour Raiders b Tauranga A 3-0 (25-23, 25-22, 25-13).
2nd Division Men: Hamilton b Auckland Central 3-0 (25-18, 25-22, 25-20).
2nd Division Women: Auckland Central b South Auckland 3-0 (25-16, 25-10, 25-15).

Semifinals:

Men's Division 1: Richmond Mall Nelson Pines b Mauao Reds (Tauranga) 3-0 (27-25, 25-19, 25-19); Harbour Raiders A b Playaz (Auckland) 3-2 (23-25, 25-18, 25-22, 23-25, 15-7).
Women's Division 1: Harbour Raiders b Eagles (Wellington) 3-1 (22-25, 25-18, 25-13, 25-5); Tauranga A b Mauao Blues 3-0 (25-22,25-21,25-13).
Men's Division 2: Hamilton b Rotovegas 3-0 (25-21, 25-22, 25-22); Auckland Central b Scorpion (Dunedin) 3-0 (25-14, 25-22, 25-21).
Women's Division 2: Auckland Central b East Coast Thunder (Auckland) 3-1 (25-17, 25-19, 15-25, 25-21); South Auckland b Manukau South 3-1 (17-25, 25-21, 25-16, 25-15).