After three challenging days of play, one team from Hawke's Bay has qualified for the top 16 at the 49th Massey University New Zealand Volleyball Secondary School National Championships in Palmerston North.
The event, at Central Energy Trust Arena, started last Sunday and ends tomorrow.
Seven teams from the region are in the honours grade, which comprises the top 32 schools in the country.
After crossover play, Napier Girls' High School are now competing for ninth to 16th position. Assistant coach Kath Samia said: "The girls played really well in the first division but, unfortunately, didn't make top 8".
In the boys' premier grade, Napier Boys' High School and Havelock North High School are on track to finish in one of the top four Div 3 positions - best finish 33rd in the tournament.
NBHS coach Alani Samia
said: "Both Napier Boys and Havelock North are doing well and, hopefully, either one or two finish in the top three teams for division 3, which will give either Hawke's Bay/Poverty Bay one or possibly two more slots in the honours grade. Gisborne Boys' High earned the only slot in the honours grade, the top 32."