The Northern Moana were winners twice over on Sunday, the men’s and women’s sides taking out their respective finals in the National Volleyball League at AUT Sports and Fitness Centre in Auckland.
Lauren Fleury’s women’s side got the finals off to a pulsating start, recovering from a 2-0 deficit to claim an incredible 3-2 fightback win over the defending champions Midlands Te Waiora.
Fleury said: "I was really happy with the way the team kept fighting and finding a way to win. We had a plan to keep trying to get better each match and while there were the inevitable ups and downs, they kept believing in the plan.
"We had strength all around the court, everyone in the team contributed, and ultimately we needed that flexibility and adaptability to be able to beat the other very good teams."
The action continued in the afternoon’s second final, Neil Anderson’s Moana Men’s team handing Sebastian Gonzalez’s Southern Pounamu their first loss of the weekend with an enthralling 3-2 win.
In the third-fourth place matches earlier in the day, Central Hauwhenua were 2-0 winners over Southern Pounamu in the women’s competition while Midlands Te Waiora accounted for Central Hauwhenua 2-0 in the men’s grade.
National Volleyball League 2022 - Grand Finals
Women's - Northern Moana 3-2 Midlands Te Waiora
First Referee: Brieana Booth
Second Referee: Brady Nicholson
Men's - Northern Moana 3-2 Southern Pounamu
First Referee: Luis Paulo
Second Referee: Gavin Turketo
