Some trailblazers light the path, others walk it with you, passing the jersey into your hands.

In the 1970s, Maureen (Horlor) Booth captained the Volley Ferns, paving the way for the wāhine who proudly wear the black jersey today. This week, Maureen and her daughter travelled to Canberra to stand alongside our current Volley Ferns for their Trans-Tasman Test Series against the Australian Volleyroos.

At our jersey presentation, Maureen’s presence was a powerful reminder that every serve, spike, and set we play carries the legacy of those who came before. The moment was more than symbolic, it was a living link between past and present, honouring the resilience, skill, and mana of generations of Volley Ferns.

The series opened with two fiercely contested matches.

Game One saw the Volley Ferns fight hard, taking the second set before Australia closed out the match:

• Set 1 | 25–23 | Australia

• Set 2 | 25–23 | New Zealand

• Set 3 | 25–21 | Australia

• Set 4 | 25–19 | Australia

Game Two stretched to a deciding fifth set, with both teams trading momentum in a nail-biting contest:

• Set 1 | 25–13 | New Zealand

• Set 2 | 15–25 | Australia

• Set 3 | 18–25 | Australia

• Set 4 | 25–16 | New Zealand

• Set 5 | 15–5 | Australia

Over the course of the series, we’ll be sharing some of Maureen’s stories, the ones that shaped the game we love today, and continue to inspire the wāhine who wear the jersey now.

Article added: Wednesday 13 August 2025