The Dunedin-based Scorpions women's team continued its domination of division two at the national club championships in Auckland, winning the final in straight sets on Saturday.
The Scorpions topped the women's division two with a 3-0 (25-14, 25-15, 25-19) win over Hornby in the gold medal playoff.
The side has now won the division title two years in a row, dropping just one set in 43 sets of volleyball over the past two years.
The win over Hornby was slightly easier than coach Jock Murley envisaged prior to the final.
''It was quite a comprehensive win - and not what I was expecting after we played them during the year,'' Murley said.
''We closed them down pretty nicely, and it was much easier than we expected.''
Shutting down Hornby's attacking threats paid dividends throughout the match.
''Hornby have a couple of very good hitters and our blockers really closed them down. Between their two hitters, they might have got half a dozen points in the entire game.''
The strong blocking efforts helped the Scorpions record comfortable margins in the first two sets, and the team was ready for a Hornby resurgence in the third - and ultimately final - set.
''They showed a bit of resistance in the third set but the girls stood fast, and we emerged winners from that set as well.
''One of our outside hitters, Melissa Duff, really played a smart game, placing the ball quite nicely and hitting off their blockers to score a large number of points.''
Murley praised the whole team, but singled out Sophie Joy for her blocking work throughout the week.
''All in all, it's a mixed team - we've got some international schoolkids in there - so it was a very sound performance for all of the players.''
Where the Scorpions play next year depends on a number of factors.
''We will be doing some agitating to change some of the qualification procedures,'' Murley said.
''Under the current rules, if we want to get into division one, we've got to finish in the top two in the South Island.''
The Scorpions men's team finished 10th in division one after losing 3-1 (25-16, 23-25, 25-20, 25-17) to the Waitakere Rebels in the play off for ninth.
The men's division one competition was won by Solly's Nelson Pine, and the Tauranga women's team claimed the division one title in its category. Hamilton won the men's division two category.
