This year marked another proud chapter for junior volleyball in Taupō, with RetroGLAZE continuing its ongoing support for young athletes from Taupō-Nui-a-Tia College and Tauhara College. With help from the sponsorship, three teams headed to the recent North Island Junior championships. Both the boys and girls teams from Taupō-Nui-a-Tia College, along with the boys team from Tauhara College.

RetroGLAZE’s commitment this year backed coaches, assisted with travel and accommodation costs, and provided coaching uniforms, helping reduce the barriers for young people who want to compete, and helping the kids focus on playing their best game.

The 4 day tournament capped off months of training, team building, and learning. Coaches have said the amount of improvement has been huge and the teams have come a long way from the start of the season. Bruce Mason – RetroGLAZE – says “It’s a great program to be apart of and it’s awesome to have such a cool bunch of kids having fun playing volleyball”.

Players who started the year still figuring out positioning and timing were finishing it with solid systems and consistency that really showed off the work they had put in.

Most importantly, the kids had a great time. For many, it was their first chance to experience a big tournament atmosphere. They soaked up every moment, with long rallies, plenty of close 3 set games against new opponents, and the buzz of representing their school and region.

Both schools are already looking ahead to the 2026 senior and junior seasons with excitement. Taupo volleyball has a bright future and plenty to be proud of, with heaps of young athletes who love the game and are improving every season. RetroGlaze is thrilled to be part of the journey.