Volleyball Waikato

ETHNIC FESTIVAL DRAW

The draw is now live for the Ethnic Festival happening this Saturday 🙌

Come down to The Peak and check out all 33 teams across 3 grades.

Live draw & results: https://www.volleyballwaikato.org.nz/indoor-2/competitive

2026 WAIKATO LEAGUE

Registrations are now open for the 2026 Waikato League!

The Waikato League is the region’s premier club competition and serves as the seeding tournament for the 2026 Midlands Club Competition.

The competition is open to all competitive teams looking for quality match play and a challenging environment, regardless of whether they intend to participate in the Midlands League.

Link: https://www.sporty.co.nz/viewform/516893

TERM 2 2026 KIWIVOLLEY LEAGUE

The first round of the primary & intermediate schools Kiwivolley League is starting tomorrow at The Peak! The League will see our emerging talent play over the next 4 weeks.

For draw & results, scan the QR code of visit our website volleyballwaikato.org.nz.

Look forward to seeing everyone in action!

WAIKATO UNDER 17 GIRLS - 6TH PLACE

Our Under 17 girls’ team enjoyed a positive IPC campaign which featured a huge amount of excellent volleyball. The group had a strong team environment which saw our non-travelling reserves regularly attending trainings and ensuring the selected players were kept on their toes. Several team members nursed injuries in the build up to the event which was a challenge but they all worked hard to be ready for the event.

On Day 1, the girls opened with two decisive 3-0 wins against both Hawkes Bay B and Otago. This meant a quarter final place was secured with a pool match remaining.

Sunday was a much busier day. It ultimately included 14 sets of volleyball and the contrasting emotions of a 15-13 5th set win and a 15-13 5th set loss. In the pool match against Canterbury, the girls quickly realised the intensity levels had stepped up after starting slowly in the first set. A huge fightback began and the result was plenty of quality play from both teams. After almost two hours, Canterbury edged our girls in the decider.

The team had to regroup quickly for their quarter-final against Bay of Plenty A. While the BOP girls played an impressive match to win 3-1, the 3rd set featured our most consistent volleyball of the weekend. Strong serving and defence complemented our excellent serve receive and varied attacking play. It was an entertaining match and we were not surprised that Bay went on to take out the Under 17 title.

It was tough to get back up for Sunday’s third match against Wellington Gold but all ten players contributed at key moments to earn a tough 3-2 win. Monday’s match for 5th and 6th saw Wellington Black play more controlled and consistent volleyball to earn the victory.

This group have a strong future in volleyball. They are athletic, coachable and they’re all growing in their understanding of the game. The squad was extremely well led by our captain Taylor Murdock and they represented Waikato with great determination and pride.

Finally, many thanks to our coaching team of Andrew Kilham and Anke Van Dijk for their work in leading, encouraging and growing these young athletes.

Many thanks goes to our funders Lion Foundation for accommodation and trillion for uniforms, we appreciate the support!

WAIKATO U17 BOYS - 8TH PLACE

Congratulations to the Waikato U17 Boys team on a strong campaign at the NZ Interprovincial Championships, finishing 8th overall after a tough and highly competitive tournament.

The boys got their tournament off to an excellent start on Day 1, opening pool play with a convincing 3-0 victory over Harbour B. They backed that performance up with another impressive 3-0 win against MAVA, showing confidence, teamwork, and composure throughout both matches.

Their final pool match against Tasman proved to be one of the toughest contests of the tournament. In a hard-fought five-set battle, the boys pushed Tasman all the way before being edged out 3-2. Despite the result, Waikato had done enough to secure a place in the quarter-finals, where they faced a strong Canterbury side.

Day 2 saw Waikato take on Canterbury in the quarter-finals. The boys competed hard and never stopped fighting, but Canterbury proved too strong on the day, taking the match 3-0. Waikato then faced WECA in another thrilling five-set encounter. Once again, the boys showed tremendous determination and resilience but narrowly lost 3-2 in a match that could have gone either way.

In their final match for 7th and 8th placing, Waikato came up against Wellington. It was yet another five-set battle, with the boys leaving everything on the court and competing right until the final whistle. Although they were unable to get across the line, their effort, commitment, and fighting spirit were evident throughout the match.

While the results did not always fall in Waikato's favour during the latter stages of the tournament, what stood out most was the character of this group. The boys continued to support one another, remained positive through adversity, and represented Waikato with pride both on and off the court. Three of their four losses came in five-set matches, highlighting just how competitive they were against some of the strongest teams in the country.

We are incredibly proud of the growth shown by this group throughout the tournament. They embraced every challenge, competed with heart, and represented their families, and the Waikato region with pride and dignity. The experience gained this from this tournament will serve them well as they continue their volleyball journeys.

Lastly, we would like to extend our sincere thanks and appreciation to Nic Tomu, Mila Gandeza, and Bernidette Tomu for their time, commitment, and dedication in coaching, managing, and supporting the athletes throughout the IPC season. Your efforts behind the scenes played a significant role in helping these young men develop not only as volleyball players but also as individuals.

We extend our thanks to our funders The Lion Foundation and Trillion for their generosity and helping our teams get to tournament this season.

HUSKIES VOLLEYBALL CLUB MUSTER

Club season is here! 🔥

The Hamilton Huskies Volleyball Club will be hosting their muster tonight at HBHS.

Check out their page for season information and trial dates when they come out.

WE’RE BACK 🐺🔥

IT BEGINS

Huskies Volleyball Musters are here and we’re kicking off the season with fun, games, and a chance to show what you’ve got.

Whether you’re new to the game or ready to rip into another season, come down, get involved, and be part of the Huskies family.

📍 Muster 1: Hamilton Boys High School
🗓 5 June, 6pm to 9pm
💰 $5 entry
👥 Ages 13+

📍 Muster 2: Fraser High School
🗓 7 June, afternoon, time TBC

Scan the QR code above to register interest now!
Or use this link
https://forms.gle/JwumDZMziSeNYY1F6

NESIAN VOLLEYBALL CLUB TRIALS

Nesian Volleyball Club will be hosting their 2026 season trials starting this Saturday 🙌

Come along as they prepare for the 2026 season kicking off with the Waikato League, Midlands League, and Club Championships just around the corner!

Check out the poster for more information or head to Nesian Volleyball Club for full details.

Club season is almost here, and we’re excited to announce that our 2026 trial dates are officially locked in! 😚

Location: The Peak, Rototuna

Trial 1 – Saturday, 6 June

🧍🏽‍♀️11:00 AM – 1:00 PM: Women
🧍🏽1:00 PM – 3:00 PM: Men

Trial 2 – Sunday, 14 June

🧍🏽‍♀️11:00 AM – 1:00 PM: Women
🧍🏽1:00 PM – 3:00 PM: Men

The trial fee is $5 per person (Per Trial). Please bring exact cash on the day, or make a bank transfer using the details below:

Account Name: Nesian Volleyball Club
Bank: ASB
Account Number: 12-3454-0204458-000

Particulars: Trial 1 or Trial 2
Reference: Your full name

To help make registration smooth and easy on the day, please register using the link below:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScoBmWtXHJeUdw9HDfufDyZydGGQk3y8tY91jWWYSfiwXc7-A/viewform

🎨

WAIKATO U19 WOMEN - 9TH PLACE

Congratulations to the Waikato U19 Women’s team on an outstanding performance at the NZ Interprovincial Championships, finishing 9th overall and improving on their seeding from 2025.


The tournament began with a hard-fought opening match against Hawke’s Bay led by Millah Burge, our U19 Women’s captain in what proved to be a crucial contest. Waikato narrowly went down 3-2, losing 15-13 in the fifth set after a marathon battle. Despite the disappointment, the team showed great resilience and determination throughout the match.

Waikato then faced the top-seeded Harbour side who ended up winning the grade overall. Although the result was a 3-0 loss, the scoreline did not reflect how competitive the match was, with Waikato pushing North Harbour closely in both the final two sets. The team responded strongly in their third pool match, defeating Volley South 3-0 to finish pool play on a positive note.

The girls continued to build momentum during the classification rounds, producing an impressive 3-2 victory over Manawatū before following up with a strong 3-1 win against Wellington. These performances showcased the team’s growth, confidence, and ability to perform under pressure.

In the 9th/10th playoff, Waikato faced WECA and delivered another excellent performance to secure the win and claim 9th place overall. Finishing the tournament with four consecutive victories was a fitting reward for the hard work and commitment shown by the team throughout the week.

We were particularly impressed with the way the girls supported one another and continued to improve as a unit over the course of the tournament. Their resilience following a heartbreaking opening loss, combined with their determination and positive team culture, enabled them to finish strongly and represent Waikato with pride both on and off the court.

Lastly, we would like to send a special thanks and appreciation to Marcel Kuijpers and Tori Newing for their time and effort in coaching and developing the athletes this IPC season.

WAIKATO OPEN WOMENS - 3RD PLACE

Coach Matt Polley assembled a well prepared Women’s team ready to compete at the highest level in the country.

Our opening game against Harbour B settled the nerves, although we initially struggled with passing some exceptional float serves. The 3-1 win gave the younger girls the confidence that they could compete with the best.

A close fought battle with Wellington was just what we needed, the speed of their game made us rethink our defensive systems, and we rose to the occasion winning an exciting five set thriller.

The momentum and confidence from day one, saw our back court defense rise to the next level. WECA threw everything they had at us, but we refused to let a ball touch the floor.

This three set win propelled us to top of the table, setting up a semi final against a strong Otago team who had taken a set off eventual champions, Harbour.

Although we lost the semi 3-0, there were many outstanding performances. Libero Mila Gandeza picked up numerous spikes from Otago’s NZ players. Our outstanding Outside Mollie Allison showed a wide range of attacking skills, scoring at will against such an accomplished team.

The Bronze Medal match was the highpoint of the tournament. Great setting from setters Brieana Crosbie and Lucy Allison created a platform for our hitters to dominate. Massive blocks from debutant Holly Proudlock gave the Wellington attackers little opportunity to find the floor.

Our 3-1 win set us on the podium with a Bronze medal for the Waikato Volleyball association to cherish!
A special congratulation also goes to Brieana Crosbie, who was named to the Tournament Team in recognition of her excellent performances throughout the tournament, playing both setter and opposite.

Finally, we would like to extend a huge thank you to Coach Mike Polley and to team manager Robyn Polley for her hard work and dedication throughout the tournament.

WAIKATO U19 MEN - 3RD PLACE

Congratulations to the Waikato U19 Men’s team on securing a bronze medal and finishing 3rd at the NZ Interprovincial Championships!

Much like last year, the team was drawn into a challenging pool. They faced adversity early, falling behind 0-2 in their opening match against MAVA before mounting an impressive comeback to win 3-2. The team then produced a dominant 3-0 victory over Manawatu before concluding pool play with a 1-3 loss to BOP A.

The quarterfinal match against BOP Development followed a similar script. After dropping the opening two sets and trailing 1-6 in the third set, the boys regrouped and showed tremendous resilience, completing a remarkable reverse sweep to earn their second consecutive National Semifinal appearance.

In the semifinal, Waikato fell 0-3 to eventual national champions Harbour A. Unfortunately, two players were injured during and before the match. However, they responded strongly in the bronze medal match, defeating Tasman 3-1 to secure a well-deserved third-place finish.

We were particularly impressed by the team’s ability to stay composed, regroup, and fight back from significant deficits throughout the tournament. Despite losing captain Parker Mackenzie and Keagan Prinsloo to injury during the campaign, the team continued to compete at a high level and achieved an outstanding result.

A special congratulations also goes to Bjorn Fitch, who was named to the Tournament Team in recognition of his excellent performances throughout the tournament.

Finally, we would like to extend a huge thank you to coaches Seth Phork and Ted Pogai for guiding the team through another successful IPC campaign, and to team manager Leslie Pogai for her hard work and dedication throughout the tournament.