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High hopes for Palmy Boys this week

Tuesday 29 March 2011, 9:17AM

By Sport Manawatu

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PALMERSTON NORTH

The 2011 Secondary School Volleyball National Championships are underway at Arena Manawatu with round one of pool play kicking off at 8.15am yesterday (March 28).

Local favourites Palmerston North Boys High School have a golden opportunity this week after being pushed up into the Top 32 Boys Grade, as a result of unfortunate withdrawals from a few Christchurch based schools.

PNBHS won their second game of the day against Whangarei based, Kamo High School, with a confident 3-0 triumph, Canadian coach Dante Di Panio was over the moon with the boys’ efforts.

“The boys were lucky to be promoted into the top grade and I am pleased that they are really fighting to prove themselves here” Mr Di Panio says. “We are looking forward to the remainder of the week and have high hopes for finishing in the top 16.”

Local girls’ teams, Awatapu College, Freyberg High School and Fielding High School lost their first games while Freyberg High School Boys team won all three sets against Hamilton’s, Fraser High, yesterday afternoon.

With over 140 games completed in the first round of pool play, New Zealand Volleyball Tournament Director, Pamela Brodie was happy with both the attitudes of players on their first day of games.

“The teams showed great enthusiasm for their first day of tournament, which is great to see” she says. “It foreshadows the promising week we have ahead of us and I am looking forward to the tighter games where the players can really show their skills”

Pool games will continue until Wednesday afternoon, with the final senior matches scheduled to take place Friday, April 1 from 1pm.

For more details on the 2011 Secondary School Volleyball National Championships please visit volleyballnz.org.nz.