Top volleyball teams enter tournament

Press, 1 June 1985, Page 12

Top volleyball teams enter tournament

Some of New Zealand’s leading volleyball teams will this week-end take part in the annual Skellerup AllStars sponsored University of Canterbury invitation tournament at Cowles Stadium. The entries for both the men’s and women’s sections are very strong. The Skellerup All Stars men’s team, of Christchurch, is the current national club champion and is unbeaten in the Southern League this season. The team has a big nucleus of New Zealand players. The return of Gilbert Enoka to a big tournament situation will be awaited with interest, and big efforts can be expected from Mike Dudson, Mark Termeer and Doug Smith. A rising New Zealand star, Glenn Hamilton, could also feature. From the North Island

the main opposition is expected to come from the Central League leaders, Eagles (Wellington). The team features two former Christchurch players, Tony Barnett and Paul Bell, both of whom are also former New Zealand players. They are joined by Mark Grey. Scorpions and both Shirley A and B are expected to be the other teams capable of upsetting. In the women’s section, Porirua, the national club champions, will be back to defend its title. However, their competition looks harder than normal with any one of three teams likely to cause an upset. The Skellerup All Stars women’s team, with the return of Mary Edmondson (nee Fastier), should, through its fast attack, be able to upset the hard-

blocking Porirua side. Otago University, while perhaps a bit short in match practice, is a young team with Claire Stewart likely to feature along with Jenny Hooke and Anita Bird. Smash women, who upset the Skellerup women’s team in the league recently, looks a balanced team but with little depth which could count against it in a long tournament. New Zealand’s senior coaches, Mr John Hall (men) and Mr Ben Benacek (women) will attend the tournament. The junior women’s team will be attending the world championships in Italy in September, while the senior women’s and men’s teams will attend a qualifying tournament for the world promotional championships in Australia in early October.