VOLLEY BLACKS WIDER SQUAD NAMED

Information and photo courtesy of volleyballnz.org.nz 

The Volley Blacks wider squad has been named for the current international cycle. Photo by www.phototek.co.nz

The wider squad of the Volley Blacks for the 2024-25 international cycle has been confirmed with coach Sebastian Gonzalez naming 37 players.

Following a camp at Pioneer Recreation Centre and Shirley Boys High School in Christchurch at the end of August, the wider squad features 11 of the 12 players who made the trip to Chile in the squad’s last international outing in July 2023.

Gonzalez says landing the wider list was challenging with the growing talent pool in New Zealand.

“The selection process was a really hard task, we had the best athletes trialling from all around Aotearoa and unfortunately we can’t select them all, but we are confident we did a good job picking the strongest squad available,” Gonzalez said.

The national men’s coach says those who have earned their spots have put their hand up in a range of environments over recent times.

“We have a selected group of athletes who have demonstrated in their recent performances why they are part of the Volley Blacks. It is a mix of athletes who have performed amazingly in the national tournaments with a lot of experience, and the Chile test series.

“This is combined with a mix of youth with a promising potential to become top players in New Zealand.”

Gonzalez says the attention now turns to weaving the group together as they build towards the pinnacle event – the Asian Championships.

“What we are working with this squad is to build a team culture where we can work together towards achieving the goals we are setting for the next few years until our biggest challenge which is Asian Championships.

“We are setting goals and a team culture that will help us to achieve excellence on and off the court, with the aim of performing on the court according to the international level, and a professional environment that will help our athletes and coaching staff to work towards those goals.”

Volley Blacks wider squad 2024-25

AJ Salmon – Canterbury
Billy Johnstone – Harbour
Cameron Douglas – Harbour
Campbell Forsyth – Bay of Plenty
Carrick Corson – Canterbury
Daniel Hitchens – Bay of Plenty
Daniel Kilpatrick – Harbour
Daniel Malcolm – Canterbury
Finn Howard – Canterbury
Greg Vukets – Harbour
Jackson Taurarii – Wellington
Jacob Ceelen-Thomas – Canterbury
James Sadlier – Harbour
Jamie Julian – Canterbury
Jobe McAuley – Tasman
Johann Timmer – Harbour
Joseph Mafi – Wellington
Josh Clarke – WECA
Joshua Watson – Otago
Jova Waqa – Canterbury
Kyle Smith – Canterbury
Leni Ma’ia’i – Harbour
Luke Hulston – Canterbury
Luke McIntosh – Canterbury
Mana Placid – Canterbury
Matthew Brett – Canterbury
Matthew Butterfield – Canterbury
Maxton Venimore – Bay of Plenty
Netana Samia – Bay of Plenty
Noah Smith – Otago
Pesamino Morrison – Canterbury
Sam Hodges – Canterbury
Saxon Gough – Harbour
Seth Grant – Canterbury
Thomas Vesty – Canterbury
Troy Hulston – Canterbury
Will Watson – Harbour

Management staff
Sebastian Gonzalez – Head Coach
Sue Ballantyne – Manager

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