Volleyball: Short and tall, they reached new heights

Otago Girls' High School volleyballers (from left) Holly Paterson and Maddy Dixon. Photo by Peter...
Otago Girls' High School volleyballers (from left) Holly Paterson and Maddy Dixon. Photo by Peter McIntosh.
At 1.82m and 1.65m respectively, Maddy Dixon and Holly Paterson are an unlikely-looking pair of sporting talents.

However, the two girls just dug, set and spiked their way to a bronze medal as part of the South Island team in the transtasman under-17 championship in Canberra.

The South Island team was pooled up against teams from Queensland, New South Wales, the North Island, Australian Capital Territory and Victoria.

Because of the resources in South Island volleyball, they went into the tournament with far less experience together than the other teams.

The two 15-year-olds worked hard and played above themselves.

Paterson was in awe of the level but was undaunted by the taller Australian and North Island girls.

''I'm used to being shorter than everybody,'' the libero said.

The diminutive Paterson is typical of her position.

The libero rotates in as a backcourt specialist, taking the majority of responsibility for serve-receive and defence.

''It's fun running around the court, digging balls. Especially because the girls over there are hitting harder than I'm used to,'' Paterson said.

Dixon, a middle, plays the polar opposite position to Paterson. Middles play at the centre of the net.

Their primary role is to attack and block, and then swap with the libero in the backcourt.

''It was cool matching up against other tall middles, and holding my own,'' Dixon said.

The South Island went down to rival the North Island in the semifinals but bounced back with a 3-1 win over the more experienced Victoria to clinch the bronze.

''The feeling after winning that game was unbelievable,'' Dixon said.

''We were all ecstatic.''

As well as enjoying great volleyball, the girls relished the social experience too.

''Everyone was really friendly and wanted to talk to us because we're from New Zealand,'' Paterson said.

- Leni Ma'ia'i

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