Haringey’s volleyball teams were toppled at the last hurdle in this year’s Balfour Beatty London Youth Games but Violeta Trifonova insists finishing second was not just a consolation.

The team twice came undone by the Games’ overall Jubilee Trophy winners Wandsworth on the volleyball court but 16-year-old Trifonova wasn’t disappointed.

“The people and the atmosphere at my first Games meant it was perfect,” said Haringey Sixth Form pupil Trifonova.

“It was just a great event and we had a great team spirit too, we all came together and performed really well.

“The competition was high and I didn’t expect us to get so far but with a little bit of luck anything is possible.

“It would have been nice to win, when you are in a final you always think you have a chance, but we are definitely happy with the result.”

Haringey finished tenth in the overall Jubilee Trophy standings at the Games and made strides in a variety of sports across the entire 2014 edition.

The borough struck gold in the boys’ cross country and finished third in diving, girls’ basketball and ParaGames football and boys’ cricket.

The female cricket team jumped up to fifth from a 17th-place finish in 2013 while the boys’ squash side improved from 13th to sixth.

In 2013 the boys’ volleyball side had to settle for fifth and for captain Damian Andrzejewski, silver was just reward for their efforts.

“It’s not the medal we wanted but it’s cool,” said the 18-year-old. “We played very well throughout the day and better than last year which is the important thing because it shows how we’re improving as a team.

“We felt good coming into the weekend and were confident we could perform well and we did that. It just wasn’t enough for top spot.

“My dream is to become a professional volleyball player and become the best in the world and I’m sure everyone at the Games has a similar dream.”

The London boroughs and Balfour Beatty invest in the London Youth Games to build stronger communities through competitive sport.