Volleyball back with mixed six

The Cook Islands volleyball season will start early next month with the Vonnias Corporate mixed six volleyball league.

The tournament will run for 10 weeks and is the first volleyball fixture organised by the newly elected Cook Islands Volleyball Association (CIVA).

An annual general meeting was held recently where Tangianau Tuaputa was re-elected as the CIVA president.

Tuaputa is thrilled that international beach volleyball player and local Brendon Heath has accepted the mantel of vice president of the association as his wealth of experience will boost the development of volleyball in the Cook Islands.

Heath is reportedly working towards securing a permanent venue where beach volleyball can be developed.

He hopes to be able to promote training sessions where he can assist with developing a beach volleyball base of players that could possibly represent the Cook Islands at international Beach Volleyball competitions, especially in New Zealand, Australia and Asia.

Another old hand to volleyball administration is the newly elected secretary general Hugh Graham. Graham brings a wealth of administration experience to CIVA.

Graham has been actively involved with volleyball while in New Zealand where he formed the Auckland Cook Islands Volleyball Association and was president of Counties Manukau Volleyball Association for five years.

During this time he assisted with establishing the South Pacific Challenge annual tournament, coordinated hosting the NZ National club champs held in Manukau and was the tournament director of the Oceania Volleyball Champs held in Auckland in 2002.

The association is excited about the up and coming mixed volleyball tournament which will be played at the Telecom Sports Arena.

There has been a massive response to the tournament and it is likely that the 16 mixed team league could turn into a 24 mixed team league.

Corporate teams who have yet to receive a registration form are asked to contact anyone of the following people Hugh Graham on mobile 52287 or email hugh_henrygraham@yahoo.com, Moari Halston on mobile 54402 or email moari@oyster.net.ck or Brendon Heath on mobile 76781 or email beeheath@gmail.com

Besides Vonnia’s Corporate Mixed League, the committee is already putting plans together for a youth development volleyball training programme, reviving the Rarotonga Club competition and the much awaited beach volleyball development programme.

Meanwhile the Cook Islands Volleyball Association committee includes patrons George George and James Beer, Tangianau Tuaputa (president), Brendon Heath (vice president), Hugh Graham (secretary general), Ngatuaine Maui (assistant secretary), Tangi Kimitaunga (treasurer), Turi Akavaanga (assistant treasurer) and auditor Michael Ponga.