Impressive performances at Auckland Senior Volleyball Championships

Last year’s results were historic for Macleans College, with the boys’ team finishing in fifth place and the girls’ team securing first place in Division 2. These results qualified the boy’s team for this year’s premier competition, playing two matches each Friday night for the first five weeks of Term 1. These games prepared a young team well for the Auckland Senior Volleyball Championships in which they were seeded eighth.

The boys won their first four matches, advancing to face Rangitoto College, ranked first, in the quarter finals. Although Macleans College lost, they performed admirably, with the third set reaching a tense 22-all. In their final two matches, the team continued to perform strongly. Their match against Orewa College was particularly competitive, with the final set extending to a marathon 32-30 after saving six match points. As a result, the team has secured a spot in the Auckland Premier grade for 2026 and will now focus their training on this level.

Special recognition is due to Michael Khairov (Hillary House) and Jarrod Hall (Te Kanawa) for their performances, as well as to the two youngest players, Mathew Bailey (Kupe) and Jake Ashley (Mansfield), who are in Year 9 and Year 10. As in previous years, former student Randy Jiang (Te Kanawa House 2014 – 2018) dedicated countless hours to coaching the team, contributing greatly to their development.

The girls faced two challenging matches on the first day of competition, both of which were crucial for advancing to the top sixteen. They played Saint Kentigern College in the first match, playing very well and winning, and then Carmel College in the second match, who were ranked third in the tournament. This match proceeded to a decisive set, which reached 11-all, underscoring the closeness of the contest. Although the team was disappointed to lose, they earned the respect of one of the top teams in the region.

The other matches the girls played were equally close and of a very high quality. The win against Kelston Girls’ College was arguably the finest performance by a Macleans College volleyball team in over forty years of competition.