On a sweltering 28-degree day, Westlake Girls High School impressed spectators by securing the silver medal at the North Island Secondary Schools Junior Beach Volleyball Championship held at Mairangi Bay last weekend.
After defeating the Harbour Junior Champions, Carmel College, in the quarterfinals, the Year 10 pairing of Lily Herrett and Petrysse Gayaman went on to overcome Mount Albert Grammar School in a hard-fought three-set semifinal. They then faced a strong Mt Maunganui College duo, who were members of the team that claimed silver at the North Island Indoor Volleyball Junior Championships just the day before. Herrett showed exceptional grit, chasing down balls in the hot sand and delivering key attacking points with finesse, while Gayaman demonstrated composure and accuracy with her serving under pressure.
Westlake’s top Year 9 team, Cora Rodgers-Savea and McKenzie Te Awa, who had won the Harbour Year 9 Championship two weeks earlier, also performed strongly and achieved an admirable 5th-place finish. It is a proud result for Westlake Girls and an excellent showcase of emerging talent in the sport.