NZ and Brazil take Beach Volleyball Titles in Wellington
-Superior ball control saw the NZ men’s team of Kirk Pitman & Jason Lochhead, and the Brazilian woman’s pairing of Camilinha Saldanha & Lili Maestrini, take the winner’s cheques in the Absolutely Positively Wellington Open in windy conditions on Oriental Parade.
Superior ball control saw the NZ men’s team of Kirk Pitman & Jason Lochhead, and the Brazilian woman’s pairing of Camilinha Saldanha & Lili Maestrini, take the winner’s cheques in the Absolutely Positively Wellington Open in windy conditions on Oriental Parade.
The two day tournament was played in blustery conditions throughout, placing increased emphasis on controlled passing and serving.
The top kiwi men’s team shone in both these aspects with some beautiful top-spin serves from Lochhead, and float serves from Pitman helping them dominate the Wellington tournament.
After beating the second ranked NZ men’s team of Greg Lindsay-Brown & Russell Watson 21-18, 21-15, Pitman & Lochhead advanced through to the final where they met the US pairing of Paul Baxter & Adam Roberts from the US.
The kiwi’s jumped out to an early lead in the first set following a few serving aces from Jason Lochhead and some strong hits from Pitman. They looked reasonably comfortable for the rest of the final, despite a late resurgence from the US, to win the Wellington title 21-15, 21-19.
The wind was certainly a great leveller, resulting in many three-set battles throughout the tournament.
The men’s semi-final between Paul & Adam Roberts from the US, and Timko Lokerse & Bart Bolsterlee from the Netherlands was once such battle, with the experience of the US eventually shining through in the end to win 22-20, 18-21, 15-6.
The women’s section was filled with long three-set tussles, with the final being one of these. It was a dream final between the popular Brazilian pairing of Camilinha Saldanha & Lili Maestrini, and the top New Zealand women’s team of Anna Scarlett & Susan Blundell.
The Brazilians looked to be cruising towards their fourth consecutive title on the McEntee Hire Tour when winning the first set 21-18, before Scarlett & Blundell showed tremendous determination to come back and win the second set to win it 21-19.
Susan Blundell used the wind to great effect to produce several aces on service, while Anna Scarlett was her usual tenacious self in the back-court, diving for everything on Oriental Beach’s new sand.
The Brazilian’s then demonstrated the control and precision that has led them both to World under-21 titles, when they won the third set and the match 15-8.
Earlier in the day, Scarlett and Blundell won an epic semi-final match against the highly regarded US women’s team of Jenelle Koester and Paige Davis 21-10, 14-21, 15-12, while the Brazilians won their semi-final over the Swedish team of Camilla Nilsson & Rivia Oliveira 21-12, 21-11.
Despite windy conditions, the Wellington tournament had great crowds throughout, with thousands of spectators enjoying the beach volleyball on Wellington’s picturesque Oriental Parade.
The 2008 McEntee Hire Beach Volleyball Tour heads to Auckland next weekend for the McEntee Hire NZ Open at the ASB Tennis Centre, Stanley Street from Friday, 18 January – Sunday, 20 January.
Results – “Absolutely Positively Wellington Open”
McEntee Hire Beach Volleyball Tour (Wellington 12-13 January)
Sunday, 13 January
Semi-Finals
Men’s
Kirk Pitman & Jason Lochhead (Tau) by Greg Lindsay-Brown and Russell Watson (NP)
2-0 (21-18, 21-15)
Paul Baxter & Adam Roberts (US) bt Timko Lokerse & Bart Bolsterlee (NET)
2 -1 (22-20, 18-21, 15-6)
Women’s
Susan Blundell (Tau) and Anna Scarlett (Akl) bt Jenelle Koester and Paige Davis (US)
2-1 (21-10, 14-21, 15-12)
Camilinha Saldanha & Lili Maestrini (Bra) bt Camilla Nilsson & Rivia Oliveira (Swe)
2-0 (21-12, 21-11)
Finals
Men’s
Kirk Pitman & Jason Lochhead (Tau) bt Paul Baxter & Adam Roberts (US)
2-0 (21-15, 21-19)
Women’s
Camilinha Saldanha & Lili Maestrini (Bra) bt Susan Blundell (Tau) and Anna Scarlett (Akl)
2-1 (21-18, 19-21, 15-8)
For Further Information
Tournament Director Dean Wilson (021) 637-636
Tour Promoter Dave Mee (021) 310-501
