Volleyball New Zealand confirmed on Wednesday the squads of players targeting 2024 events in the Junior Men’s international pathway.
Following camps and trials held earlier in 2023, a total of 46 players have been named across two wider squads in preparation for events set to take place in 2024.
Junior Men’s Head Coach Ben Laing says it was a tough exercise in making the final selections for the squads with places highly contested across the groups.
“The level of competition for spots in the squad has been phenomenal,” Laing said.
“This has been the biggest challenge of my coaching career having to confirm the wider squad for the Asian Championships.”
“The depth and quality of volleyball being played around New Zealand is growing - the older players in our sport need to watch out, the new generation is coming in hot!”
Now the squad is confirmed, the next steps for Laing, the coaching staff and the wider team becomes the activity and planning ahead of the next in-camp contact scheduled for Christchurch in April (Asian Championships Wider squad). The Asian Volleyball Championship squad of 12 athletes and four non-travelling reserves will be named following that camp.
The Development Teams targeting the Australian Junior Championships are also to be finalised for action in mid-2024 following their camp opportunity slated for Palmerston North in March.
Junior Men’s Indoor – Asian Volleyball Championships 2024 wider squad
Aidan Roberts – Bay of Plenty
Ari Leckie – Canterbury
Calum Stewart – Bay of Plenty
Daniel Hitchens – Bay of Plenty
Jamie Julian – Bay of Plenty
Jobe McAuley – Tasman
Jovan Bosch – Bay of Plenty
Kameo Wagner – Bay of Plenty
Luke McIntosh – Canterbury
Matthew Brett – Canterbury
Michael Tyler – WECA
Netana Samia – Bay of Plenty
Noah Smith – Otago
Ryan Jefferson – Harbour
Thomas Vesty – Canterbury
Xhovante Siolo – Wellington
Junior Men’s – Development Squads
Arama Turner – WECA
Ben de Goeij – Waikato
Caleb van Eekelen – Canterbury
Cameron Douglas – Bay of Plenty
Cameron Mullet – Tasman
Charlie Brady – Canterbury
Cuba Rihari – Harbour
Daniel Malcolm – Canterbury
Davi Pacheco – WECA
Hikawera Puriri – Waikato
Isaac Weir – Canterbury
Izayah Aniseko – MAVA
James Walker – Bay of Plenty
Jasper Nowacek – Harbour
Jerome Julian – WECA
John Petrucci – Harbour
Jova Waqa – Canterbury
Justin To’o – WECA
Kaipo-Natanahira Nga Tokowaru – Canterbury
Kiah Jackson – Bay of Plenty
Kodin Wilton – Waikato
Lancer Leilua-Tiatia – Wellington
Logan Vorster – Harbour
Mateo Roa – Harbour
Mitchell Stone – Waikato
Oliver Downs – Wellington
Roy Tatupu – MAVA
Sam Currin – Harbour
Sebastian Lams – Tasman
Taiki Pou - Canterbury
