Another close finish for the New Zealand Volley Ferns against the Australian Women's Volleyroos in the trans-Tasman series in Auckland. 

The Australian side won match four 3-0 (27-25, 25-12, 27-25) for their fourth success of the series, but once again the Kiwi side coached by Adam Wastson showed improvement against the side ranked 61 in the world.

The home team had a set point at 25-24 in the first set and again in the third set at the same score as well, but at the vital times throughout the series weren't able to convert the points when they needed.

In the second set the Australians upped the tempo and intensity getting an early lead and not letting up on the pressure as they experimented with their line-up.

Liz Hanna from Canterbury lamented the fact the team had come so close at times in game four after a five-set match the night before.

"We're making moves in the right direction. It's a bit of salt in the wound after last night we took them to five, to come down in three is a bit rough," she said. 

" Finishing, that last little piece, that's what we're missing. In all four games we've shown we can do it. We can hang with them, it's just a matter of being able to convert," said Hanna who was thankful the team has got time on the court at home, their first game in New Zealand since 2019.

"It's been special for us, coming out of these camps. It's nice to be able to compete internationally to see where we are and what we need to do." 

There were a number of individual players who put in a good performance for New Zealand. Hanna was used as an impact player creating opportunities for the side while Jahmal Beckmannflay enjoyed her time on court with some key touches as did Anilse Fitzi. 

The fifth and final match of the series is Friday 16 August at the Manurewa Netball Centre, first serve 7pm (entry $3 - cash only, Under-5s free).

Trans-Tasman Series - Game 4 - Volley Ferns v Volleyroos Women

New Zealand 0-3 Australia (27-25, 25-12, 27-25)

First Referee: Brieana Crosbie
Second Referee: Pi'ilua Autufuga

The Volleyroos Women’s side clinched victory in the Trans-Tasman series over the Volley Ferns in Auckland on Wednesday night.

The Australian team claimed a thrilling 3-2 win over the Poirewa Aotearoa side to grab an unbeatable lead in the five-match series.

The Australians made a rapid start to the match at Carmel College, moving out to seven-point advantage midway through the opening set. They didn’t let up, pressing home that edge - Caitlin Tipping again featuring strongly for the visitors – as they claimed the opening frame 25-12.

The second set was a tighter contest in the early going, both teams trading points and timeouts to 17-17. The Kiwis took control when it mattered, taking their first set of the series via some strong serving from Italia Tiatia and Anilise Fitzi, the Austria-based middle influential at the net in attack and defence.

The Australian’s rebounded quickly in the third, jumping out to a 6-1 advantage and maintaining that buffer through the remainder of the set, the powerful Tipping again key in attack, to take it 25-16.

The fourth set was again close with both teams combining for some outstanding rallies. Tiatia’s hitting and some solid backcourt defense featured as well as the Volley Ferns took an 11-7 advantage.

The Kiwis held maintained their lead to 18-12 through more impressive backcourt work from libero Anaya Cole, a couple of big Fitzi blocks and several huge Tiatia swings and the home side closed it out at 25-22 to force the decider.

Australia created a 10-5 lead in the final frame, fuelled by some strong hitting and serving - Tipping again a regular contributor - before closing the match and the series out at 15-7.

For New Zealand captain Petra Manderson there were positives from the match despite the loss.

"Massive improvement form yesterday. And some of the energy and feeling on court in those sets that we won we were playing our volleyball and we're really happy with that," said Manderson as the Volley Ferns played their first games at home since 2019. 

"We had that fight we talked about wanting it today and after the first two games coming away a bit frustrated so we came in hungry for this one I'm really proud of what we put there."

Looking ahead at the remaining two games, Manderson wants even more from her players.

"We still want to take these next two games and not let them sweep it. It's massive to play these kinds of games and having the experience internationally."

Game four is at the Manurewa Netball Centre on Thursday at 7pm, entry $3 (cash only) with Under-5s free.

Trans-Tasman Series: Game 3 - Volley Ferns v Volleyroos Women
August 14, 2024
Carmel College, Auckland

New Zealand 2-3 Australia (12-25, 25-22, 16-25, 25-22, 7-15)

First Referee: Pi'ilua Autufuga
Second Referee: Mahsa Zamani

The Australian Volleyroos Women’s side have taken a 2-0 lead over the Volley Ferns after the second match of the Trans-Tasman series in Auckland on Tuesday night.

After the tight Game 1 loss to Australia on Monday, the Ferns were searching for a quick rebound at Carmel College but the world 61-ranked visitors again showed their quality when they needed it in key moments – claiming a 3-0 victory on the night (25-18, 25-20, 25-19).

After back-and-forth openings to both sets, Maude Rewha’s powerful swing proving a useful weapon for the Volley Ferns, Russell Borgeaud’s Australia team created breathing space midway through each of the first two sets, closing out both frames despite the Kiwis’ best efforts to find a way back.

The third set followed the same pattern, both teams trading points closely to 14-14 before Australia opened up a 21-17 edge and then pressed home that advantage to claim the third set 25-19.

Tasman player Holly Chandler said there were plenty of positives to take out of the defeat which was still their first match at home since 2019. 

"At times were just not being able to convert it when we needed it. It feels good out there, we're definitely making progress," said Chandler who teaches Nelson.

The slow start to the match initially hurt the Volley Ferns, but Chandler said it was par for the course.

"You've always got those pre-game nerves but I think we're gelling really well on court on court and off court, we're definitely doing well," she said as they need to win the three remaining matches to take the series.

"We can definitely take it for sure. We just need fine tuning those small things, tidying some things up and get those connections."

Game three of the series is back at Carmel College on Wednesday night, first serve at 7pm. Entry is $3 with under-5s free.

Trans-Tasman Series: Game 2 - Volley Ferns v Volleyroos Women
August 13, 2024
Carmel College, Auckland

New Zealand 0-3 Australia (18-25, 20-25, 19-25)

The Australian Volleyroos Women opened the five-match series against the Volley Ferns with a 3-0 victory at Carmel College on Monday.

The visitors and Adam Watson’s Poirewa Aotearoa team traded points in a tight first set with both sides holding set points before the Australians eventually claimed the decisive point for a 32-30 advantage.

The second set was much tougher for the Volley Ferns, the Australians getting into good hitting rhythm and taking it 25-11.

Russell Borgeaud’s team completed the job in the third set, grabbing a four-point edge mid-way through the set and doing enough to hold off a spirited Kiwi fightback to clinch victory 29-27.

Experienced player Katie Adamson felt their were opportunities for the Volley Ferns.

"They had a lot more experience playing together. They had been playing together in a series in Japan and we got together on Friday and it's our first match. There's lots of things to work on but a good start," she said.

Unfortunately, the second set escaped on the home side playing the first of three games at Carmel College on the North Shore. 

The visitors held a 17-5 lead at one stage and despite the New Zealanders picking up a few more points they were never in the set.

"A few errors got us down and it's always hard to get back after that 50/50 calls went their way a few things went wrong," said Adamson.

In the third set New Zealand fought hard again and troubled their opponents with a couple of calls not going in favour of the home side, but Adamson believes there's real potential.

"Lot of little things to work on. For sure we can get some wins, little things to work out and we move forward to the next one."

The second match of the series is at Carmel College on Tuesday 13 August at 7pm.

Trans-Tasman Series – Volley Ferns v Volleyroos Women
August 12, 2024
Carmel College, Auckland

New Zealand 0-3 Australia (30-32, 11-25, 27-29)