Volleyball: Pupil's modesty leaps to the fore

By RICHARD BOOCK

Haati Alatini could be called many things - rising volleyball star included - but he could never be called a big-head.

The 18-year-old Edmund Hillary School student was this week named in the New Zealand team for the Asian championships in China, confirming his status as one of the country's most promising volleyballers.

But far from singing his triumph from the rooftops, Alatini, younger brother of former All Black Pita, told few people about the promotion, to the extent his South Auckland school was initially unaware of the call-up.

"It was just so wicked, I can't explain," Alatini said of the phone-call from New Zealand coach Jeff Jiang. "At the start I wasn't even sure what team I'd been picked in - I assumed it was an age-group side or something.

"It was only when I spoke with the manager that I realised I had been picked in the senior side. I couldn't believe it."

Alatini, who plays as a "middle" for his Counties-Manukau club Playerz, had earlier flirted with rugby, developing from a forward into a midfield back before deciding to trade his rugby boots for court shoes.

His club coach, Don Siluuga, believes the 1.93m (6ft 4in) Alatini is arguably the most promising volleyballer seen in New Zealand and could be good enough to attract attention from American college talent scouts.

"Haati's a very unassuming character - so much so that he didn't tell his school or principal about the news of his selection," Siluuga says. "They only found out when we tipped them off.

"He's a great all-rounder in terms of his volleyball and I think he's got a lot more skill and ability than many people initially thought. He's got great leaping ability and, for his height, he's very useful all over the court."

The NZ team travel to Tianjin next month for the championships and Alatini is excited about the chance to see China.

"It's going to be a tremendous experience for me, to see another culture and to be part of the national team over there. I can't wait for it to start."