The duo had just been to Wellington for an intense training camp to decide players for the New Zealand under-21 team to play in the world youth championships in Rarotonga in August.
So, after playing three games over a day and a-half, the duo had to return to Dunedin on Wednesday afternoon and then wait all night before a call yesterday morning from assistant coach Janine Southby telling them they were in or out of the side.
Moulds, a defender, said she was surprised to make the team.
"I was very nervous and when I heard that telephone ringing I was so excited . . .
"I actually felt I haven't been playing my best and not been on top of my game, " Moulds (19) said.
"But when you get there to the training camps, you get caught up in the atmosphere, you see all your friends and that sort of lifts you."
A defender, she hails from the small town of Matakohe, near Dargaville, and is in her second year of studying human nutrition at the University of Otago.
She plays her club netball for Phys Ed.
Moulds said all her family had immediately booked flights to Rarotonga.
She paid credit to a better training programme with former Olympic sprinter Chris Donaldson for her selection as it developed her speed and power.
Close (20) also said the new training programme with Donaldson had helped.
She was never sure of her selection, and said it was great to hear the phone go at 7.25am yesterday to be told she had been selected.
"I had some strange dreams and it was a bit of a long night.
"It was really competitive at the trials and all pretty fast," she said
Close, from Christchurch, is a third-year student studying finance and Spanish at the University of Otago.
She is a mid-courter, who plays for the Uni Albion club.
Close's flatmate, Camilla Lees, also made the side.
She plays for the Central Pulse in the ANZ Championship and is commuting to Wellington every week while continuing her medical studies in Dunedin.
Close said there would be a few flat drinks to celebrate.
Former Otago Rebel Hannah Broederlow also made the side, while Te Huinga Reo Selby-Rickit, of the Southern Steel, was picked along with Southland's Hayley Crofts.
Otago's Jaimee Power and Claire Kersten were named as non-travelling reserves along with Southern Steel shooter Julianna Naoupu.
New Zealand
Under-21 team
Hannah Broederlow (Central Pulse), Alanah Cassidy (Western), Emily Close (Otago), Hayley Crofts (Southland), Kayla Cullen (Auckland-Waitakere), Paula Griffin (Central Pulse), Charlotte Kight (Canterbury Tactix), Camilla Lees (Central Pulse), Jess McCormack (Auckland), Jess Moulds (Otago), Grace Rasmussen (Northern Mystics), Te Huinga Reo Selby-Rickit (Southern Steel).
Reserves: Jodi Beaumont (Western), Larrissa Harrison (Central Pulse), Emma Iversen (North), Claire Kersten (Otago), Julianna Naoupu (Southern Steel), Jaimee Power (Otago).
NB: The selections of Cullen and McCormack are subject to medical and fitness clearances.
