Western Heights High School win 11th boys' national volleyball title

Hemaia Tauroa-Apete shows his trademark jump-setting style for Western Heights High School in their Championship win against Rangitoto College. Photo / Julie Maree Photography

Western Heights High School's boys' volleyball team have claimed their 11th national title with a three sets to one win over Rangitoto College in the final.

There were 171 teams in action at the 50th Secondary Schools Volleyball Championships in Palmerston North this week and Western Heights were dominant throughout.

In the final, they were ably guided around the court by their influential setter Hemaia Tauroa-Apete, who was more often than not able to deliver centimetre-perfect sets to his spikers while under pressure. His combination with tall middle hitter Jalen Massey was particularly telling for the winners.

Rangitoto, as expected, did not give up without a fight and they cleared out to a good lead in the third set, holding on narrowly against a typical Western Heights comeback. For the Auckland-based side no player tried harder than the impressive Sam Andersen, but as the game wore on, and the Western Heights blockers worked out the angles he was hitting, his success rate waned.

After cruising through pool play unbeaten, Western Heights beat Shirley Boys' High School comfortably, three sets to nil, in the quarter-finals before taking on Trident High School in the semifinals.

They beat their plucky, but shorter, Bay of Plenty neighbours in three sets, where they did just enough to hold a clear lead in each set, to book a spot in the final.

A three-man block by Western Heights High School's Josh Tiplady (left), Tynan Gillespie and Draezel Edwards (9) against Westlake Boys' High School. Photo / Julie Maree Photography

Meanwhile, Westlake Girls' High School became New Zealand girls' champions when they overcame top Bay of Plenty team Otumoetai College in straight sets.

In each of the first two sets the Takapuna-based team pulled in front of their Tauranga opponents early in the set and held the lead throughout, on the back of some powerful outside hitting by Tamara Otene and Rachael Webster.

Coached by the very experienced Stew Henderson, 13-time Champions Otumoetai kept the scoreline much closer in the third set, but just could not get their nose far enough in front to take it, giving the Westlake team an unexpectedly straightforward victory - their first ever.

For coach John Howard, the team's win marked a welcome return to the winner's podium, having coached top women's club sides Sparta and Akarana several decades ago.

Secondary Schools Volleyball Championships - Western Heights High School boys' results

Pool play:
Beat One Tree Hill College 3-0(25-12, 25-9, 25-20)
Beat Nayland College 3-0(25-18, 25-9, 25-18)
Beat Spotswood College 3-0 (25-14, 25-20, 25-23)
Beat Rangitoto College A 3-1 (19-25, 25-18, 25-18, 25-21)
Beat Riccarton High School A 3-0 (25-13, 25-22, 25-21)
Beat Westlake Boys' High School 3-0 (25-22, 25-14, 25-18

Quarter-final: Beat Shirley Boys' High School 3-0 (25-18, 25-20, 25-20)
Semifinal: Beat Trident High School 3-0 (25-20,25-23,25-20)
Final: Beat Rangitoto College 3-1 (26-24,25-16,24-26,25-15)