New Zealand, Austrialia squads top faves in Shakey’s volley

MANILA, Philippines — Two crack teams from New Zealand and Australia test the mettle of the country’s top girls squads as they vie in the Shakey’s Girls’ Volleyball League Tournament of Champions starting Monday at Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

The guest teams arrived on separate flights last night for the five-day event which features the eight local squads that topped their respective regional eliminations last year.

They include Metro Manila leg titlist Hope Christian High School, De La Salle-Lipa, University of San Jose-Recoletos, Central Philippine University, Leyte National High School, Angeles University Foundation, Ateneo de Davao and Baguio City National High School.

“The two guest teams have the height advantage and experience in international play and are expected to provide a different challenge for our local teams,” said tournament director Johanz Buenvenida of the organizing Metro Sports.

The New Zealand squad is gearing up for the Asian Junior Women’s Championship set in Taiwan in July, making this 11th staging of the Shakey’s Girls Volley a key stop in their buildup.

Two groups of teams will play round robin with the top two from each group advancing to the semifinals. The winners will then dispute the title of the tournament backed by Mikasa, Asics, Tune Hotel, Burlington, BioFresh, Food Health and Science Magazine and Metro Sports headed by Freddie Infante.

The teams: New Zealand—Imogen Francis, Bethany Hayman, Annalise Vukets, Annilise Fitzi, Kelcy Ballantyne, Kahla Tyson, Georgia Morton, Caitlyn Taniela, Hannah Davenhill, Annie Eden, Alex Parker, Petra Manderson. Colleen McIlroy, coach.

Victoria—Nikita Peril, Liana Konjarski, Emma Regan, Bonnie Lethlean, Samantha Mabilia, Vivien Maslov, Kate Hutchinson, April Austen, Tayla Mangles, Lauren White. George Santamaria, coach.