Starting in Division One with the top 32 schools in the North Island, including Westlake Girls Junior A, the Year 9A team recorded a historical feat for the school by winning bronze in Division 2 this week. After the initial pool play games separated the top 32 into two groups, 1-16 (Division One) and 17-32 ( Division Two), the young side, coached by Haymon Keeler, moved into the quarterfinals of Division 2 and beat Hamilton Girls to qualify for the semi-finals. In their top four game, they faced a determined Otumoetai B, who beat Westlake in straight sets, 2-0. Still hopeful of a medal, the young side, captained by Katie Moors, met Mangere College A, who had finished third in the Junior A Auckland League and whom Westlake had lost to in the earlier round of the North Island Champs. Focused and determined, Year 9A beat the South Auckland team 25-18, 25 -22 to win the bronze medal.

Westlake Girls Junior A started the event strongly, finishing at the top of their pool in Division One before doing what no other team had been able to achieve this season: beating Rangitoto A in straight sets during cross-over pool play. This gave Westlake the advantage going into the quarterfinals as the #1 seed, where they met Ormiston Junior College but lost 2-0, meaning they were out of the semi-finals. The Junior A team beat Bethlehem College to finish fifth overall.

Congratulations to Year 10 student Aaliyah Sina’au, (above) who was selected for the North Island Secondary Schools Junior Volleyball Tournament Team.