Volleyball record beckons

Press, 26 July 1989, Page 28

Volleyball record beckons

The Pioneer men’s volleyball team will create its own slice of history should it win its third successive national club title in Auckland this week. The Christchurch side will equal the record of successive wins held by Sparta, of Auckland, which scored a hat-trick in the early 19705. The Pioneer coach, Tony Barnett, said the lure of three wins had provided his players with an extra incentive this year. “People will remember us as a very good side if we can win again,” said Barnett, who added that training had gone very, well in the last two months. He feels that the biggest threat will come from Shirley A and Sparta, both of which have played overseas this season.

Shirley competed without success at the Australian club tournament in Sydney, losing eight games in a row, and Sparta took part in the Peace Cup tournament in Japan, performing creditably against strong Asian competition. Pioneer had three wins and five losses at the Sydney tournament and the experience gleaned from that event should stand it in good stead. “We did not do as well as we had hoped but we were not outclassed,” said Barnett. “I don’t think teams that don’t play overseas will win nationals. If I was a betting man I would be backing us, Shirley or Sparta. That overseas experience gives you an edge.” Pioneer has met Shirley A seven times this year, winning six of those encounters. Its only reversal

was in the final of the Queen’s Birthday tournament which Shirley won, 3-1, a result which gives it some hope of upsetting the favourite. In the women’s competition Pioneer and Aranui-Smash (Christchurch) are favoured to battle out the championship along with the northern league winner, Akarana (Auckland), which is basically the old Sparta women’s team. Smash has impressed many observers this season in the southern league and its captain, Karen Bleyendaal, is hopeful of making the final. | “We would like to im- i prove on our third placing last year. Things have been going well this year in the southern league but nationals are different. Teams perform above themselves in tournament

situations and it is never predictable.” Smash and Pioneer met four times in the southern league and won two games each but Smash also lost to Shirley, the other Christchurch side which will attend the tournament at the Chase Stadium. It should also acquit itself well under its new coach, Jan Johnson. Smash will meet Akarana and Te Puke in section play while Pioneer, the defending champion, has a slightly easier route to the semi-finals in the other section. Bleyendaal said there are no injury worries in the Smash camp which remains determined to win the club’s first national women’s title. The tournament starts today with the semi-finals scheduled for Friday evening and the finals for Saturday afternoon.