Whakatāne High School volleyball players have returned from the Australian Volleyball Schools Cup on the Gold Coast with a bronze medal, having faced not only tough opposition, but also challenging playing conditions.

The Volleyball Schools Cup is held annually on the Gold Coast, Australia, and runs over seven days, bringing together secondary schools from across the region to compete for the prestigious title.

Whakatāne High School competed in the Year 11 Honours Grade (equivalent to year 12 in New Zealand), the highest grade available for that year level.

During the preliminary rounds, the team played two matches a day before advancing to the semifinals. From that point, matches were reduced to one a day for the semifinal and final rounds.

Extreme heat proved a major challenge, with compulsory heat time-outs introduced from day two as temperatures inside the stadiums climbed above 30 degrees.

Players were provided with iced water and ice packs during breaks to help cool their bodies and manage the conditions.

Whakatāne High School deputy principal Helen McKane led the team to the Gold Coast and was proud of the students’ performance.

“The girls won four of their six pool matches, securing a place in the semifinals. Although we were defeated by Tauranga Girls’ College in the semifinal, the team showed great resilience and went on to defeat Cleveland in the third-and-fourth play-off, earning a well-deserved bronze medal.

“I am extremely proud of how the team adapted to the challenging heat conditions and the different style of play in Australia. As a young team, they improved with each match, which was fantastic to witness,” she said.

Team captain Zoe Laurent was equally pleased with the team’s performance.

“We are a new team and really gelled as the tournament went on.

“The more we played, the more we learned to read each other and work together.

“We played really well and were so excited to take the bronze medal. We live-streamed the match, and our supporters went nuts when we medalled,” Zoe said.

McKane acknowledged the efforts of assistant coach Talei Bryant, as well as the team’s supporters who followed their journey via live stream and helped make the experience memorable for the players.

The team are already looking ahead to the Bay of Plenty and New Zealand championships in 2026.