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NZL Men Claim Gold & SIlver at the Futures Mount Maunganui Event

Mount Maunganui’s Main Beach was the ultimate stage for top-tier beach volleyball talent over the weekend, as the 2025 Future Pro Beach Tour brought together an impressive mix of international and national athletes.

The women’s competition showcased the undeniable strength of USA volleyball, with an all-American lineup securing all four spots in the semifinals. Their dominance set the tone for an exciting weekend of high-level play, reinforcing their reputation as a powerhouse in the sport.

On the men’s side, the Kiwi contingent gave the home crowd plenty to cheer about. Local stars Ben O’Dea and Brad Fuller clinched gold in a thrilling showdown against fellow New Zealanders Jack McManaway and Tom Hartles. This all-Kiwi final was a testament to the depth of talent within New Zealand’s beach volleyball scene. A special shoutout goes to Coach Jason Lochhead, who has worked closely with all four athletes in the gold medal match. His dedication and the hard work of the High-Performance Programme have played a crucial role in elevating New Zealand beach volleyball to new heights. To have an NZL vs. NZL final at one of the first international beach tour events of the year is an incredible achievement.

New Zealand’s women’s teams put up a strong fight, advancing to the quarter-finals but falling just short of the semis. Their performance over the weekend was nothing short of impressive, and there’s no doubt they’ll be fired up and ready to take on their next international challenges.

Beyond the podium finishes, this event was a celebration of passion, dedication, and the future of New Zealand beach volleyball. Young fans eagerly gathered around their Kiwi idols, collecting signatures and soaking in the inspiration from the nation’s best.

We couldn’t be prouder of our athletes and coaches, who continue to showcase their hard work on the international stage. With such strong performances early in the year, the future is looking bright for New Zealand beach volleyball! 

A huge thank you to our Volunteers, Referees, Local School programmes, and everyone in-between. Volleyball New Zealand is grateful for all your effort into making sure this Futures event was a success. 

For the complete list of Results and Match Results, click Here 

If you missed watching the finals, catch them Here

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Kiwi Stars Claim 1st at The Mount

Shaunna Polley and Alice Zeimann have gone back to back at the Beach Pro Tour Futures in Mount Maunganui after a first-set scare. 

Tom Reid and Jack McManaway (NZL), the only other Kiwis still involved on the last day of the competition were unable to get past stiff competition to claim a medal placing, finishing fourth. 

The USA team of Jordan Hoppe and James Shaw claimed first place in the men's competition after defeating the young Australian pair of Ben Hood and D'Artagnan Potts 2-1(18-21, 21-9, 15-9).

Over thirty teams from across thirteen countries competed in the Beach Pro Tour Futures event in Mout Maunganui over the past four days. 

Shaunna Polley and Alice Zeimann (NZL) thank Stefanie Fejes and Jana Milutinovic (AUS) after a hard-fought match. Photo by www.phototek.co.nz

After dropping the first set in front of a healthy and vocal Kiwi crowd down on Mount Maunganui Main Beach, the Kiwi pair of Shaunna Polley and Alice Zeimann were able to force a third set against the Australian pair of Stefanie Fejes and Jana Milutinovic.

A nail-biting battle continued, with every point meaning even more than the one before. Shaunna and Alice stayed cool, calm and collected in the Mount Maunganui heat, pouncing at the perfect time to take the match, winning 2-1(17-21, 21-19, 15-13)

Tom Reid prepares to serve. Photo by www.phototek.co.nz

Tom Reid and Jack McManaway were the only remaining Kiwi pair in the Men's competition come Sunday morning. Tom and Jack put up a good fight but were unable to get past eventual winners Jordan Hoppe & James Shaw in the morning's semifinal, losing in three close sets 1-2(23-25, 22-20, 11-15)

The opposition would not get any easier as they came up against another pair from the USA, Cody Caldwell and Jake Urrutia in the 3rd place match. Tom and Jack would go down to the visiting American side in two straight sets 2-0(19-21, 18-21) finishing in fourth spot. 

 

Men's First place Jordan Hoppe and James Shaw (USA). Photo by www.phototek.co.nz

 

Results 

Women's Final
Shaunna Polley & Alice Zeimann (NZL) def Stefanie Fejes & Jana Milutinovic
(AUS) 2-1(17-21, 21-19, 15-13)


Women's 3rd Place 
Alaina Chacon & Mariah Whalen (USA) def Avery Poppinga & Madison Shields (USA)
2-0(21-16, 22-20)

 

Men's Final 
Jordan Hoppe & James Shaw (USA) def Ben Hood & D'Artagnan Potts (AUS)
2-1(18-21, 21-9, 15-9)


Men's 3rd Place -
Cody Caldwell & Jake Urrutia (USA) def Tom Reid & Jack McManaway (NZL)
2-0(21-19, 21-18)

Standings 

Women's 

1st - Shaunna Polley & Alice Zeimann (NZL)
2nd - Stefanie Fejes & Jana Milutinovic (AUS)
3rd - Alaina Chacon & Mariah Whalen (USA)

Men's 

1st - Jordan Hoppe & James Shaw (USA)
2nd - Ben Hood & D'Artagnan Potts (AUS)
3rd - Cody Caldwell & Jake Urrutia (USA)

 

Photo by www.phototek.co.nz

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Kiwis march into semifinals

The penultimate day of action has come to a close on Saturday at the Beach Pro Tour Futures at Mount Maunganui Main Beach. Two Kiwi pairs have made it through to the Sunday morning Semifinals. In the Women's Shaunna Polley & Alice Zeimann, in the Men's Thomas Reid & Jack McManaway. 

Shaunna Polley Meets her opposition at the net. Photo by Julie Maree Photography

Shaunna Polley and Alice Zeimann will meet Avery Poppinga and Madison Shields (USA) in their semifinal starting at 11:00am. Shaunna and Alice made their semifinal spot by taking down the Vanuatu pair of Linlines Matauatu and Majabelle Lawac in the quarterfinal on Saturday 2-0 (21-19, 21-18)

Thomas Reid and Jack McManaway battle Jordan Hoppe and James Shaw from the United States in their semifinal, the first of Sunday, getting underway at 9:00am. Thomas and Jack earned their spot by defeating Tomer Hadar and David Lanciano (ISR) 2-0 (26-24, 21-16) in the Round of 12 on Saturday. Later in the quarterfinals, they defeated fellow Kiwi pair Bradley Fuller and Gregory Vukets 2-0(21-12, 21-19). 

 

 Thomas Reid dives for the ball. Photo by Julie Maree Photography

 

Sunday Finals Schedule - (Watch Here)

9:00am - Men's Semifinal 1 Reid/McManaway (NZL) vs Hoppe/Shaw (USA)
10:00am -Men's Semifinal 2 Hood/Potts (AUS) vs Caldwell/Urrutia (USA)

11:00am - Women's Semifinal 1 Polley/Zeimann (NZL) vs Poppinga/Shields (USA)
12:00am - Women's Semifinal 2 Chacon/Whalen (USA) vs Fejes/Milutinovic (AUS)

1:00pm - Men's 3rd Place
2:00pm - Men's Final 

3:00pm - Women's 3rd Place
4:00pm - Women's Final

 

Photos by Julie Maree Photography

Featured

Kiwis take on main draw at the Mount

A day of pool action has seen six Kiwi teams move on to the knockout stages of the Mount Maunganui - Beach Pro Tour Futures Event.

Beach Pro Tour Futures schedule and results

The top teams move straight into the quarterfinals, which include Kiwi pairs (Men's) Bradley Fuller & Gregory Vukets, Sam O'Dea & Thomas Hartles and (Women's) Shaunna Polley & Alice Zeimann.

The remaining teams will play an extra match tomorrow in the Round of 12, in which the winners will progress to the quarterfinals later in the day. Kiwi pairs who have made the round of 12 are (Men's) Thomas Reid & Jack McManaway (Women's) Olivia MacDonald & Kiana Stevenson and Katie Sadlier & Meile Rose Green.

Shaunna Polley & Alice Zeimann. Photo by Julie Maree Photography

The 2024 GJ Gardner Homes NZ Beach Tour presented by Tip Top Women's winners Polley/Zeimann, have started their defence of the Beach Pro Tour Futures Event in Mount Maunganui strongly. The morning saw the Kiwi pair overcome the Canadian pair May/Lomas 2-0 (21-6, 21-16). In the afternoon they recovered from going down in the first set to defeat the USA pair Poppinga/Shields 2-1(16-21, 21-18, 15-11) pushing them straight into the quarterfinals Saturday afternoon. 

The Men's winners of the 2024 GJ Gardner Homes NZ Beach Tour presented by Tip Top Reid/McManaway started the morning off by defeating the USA team of Justice/Pugh 2-0 (21-10, 21-14). Before falling short in their second game to another pair from the states, in Caldwell/Urrutia 0-2(18-21, 20-22). Reid/McManaway will now feature in the Round of 12 on Saturday morning against the pair from Israel Hadar/Lanciano at 9:00 am on court 1.

 

Photo by Julie Maree Photography

Key events this weekend

Saturday 9th March 

  • Round of 12 
  • Quarterfinals

Sunday 10th March 

  • Semi-finals 
  • Gold and Bronze matches
Featured

Nine Kiwi Teams Set for Main Draw

Nine Kiwi pairs are set to compete in the main draw at the second edition of the Beach Pro Tour Futures event in New Zealand taking place at Mt Maunganui Main Beach. 

Live Draw and Results - (LINK)
Beach Pro Tour Futures Seeds - (LINK)

In the Women's competition, Maria Hanabadi and Terina Hauraki joined the Kiwi contingent after two victories in qualifying. USA pair McGuire/Beitler pushed the Kiwis in the last qualifying round to an hour-long match, ending 2-1 (23-25, 21-17, 16-14).

The remaining three teams to qualify were all from the United States. Chacon/Whalen (USA), Poppinga/Shields (USA) and Peranich/Gessner (USA).

The Women's main draw action kicks off tomorrow at 10:40am when Kiwi stars and number one seeds, Shaunna Polley and Alice Zeimann take on Devon May and Kaitlin Lomas from Canada.

Women's Main Draw Teams 

  1.  Shaunna Polley & Alice Zeimann (NZL)
  2.  Stefanie Fejes & Jana Milutinovic (AUS)
  3.  Olivia MacDonald & Kiana Stevenson (NZL)
  4. Tara Phillips & Elizabeth Alchin (AUS)
  5. Linline Matauatu & Majabelle Lawac (VAN)
  6. Carly Kan & Tiffany Creamer (USA)
  7. Q. Alaina Chacon & Mariah Whalen (USA)
  8. Kana Motomura & Nayu Motomura (JPN)
  9. Q. Avery Poppinga & Madison Shields (USA)
  10. Katie Sadlier & Meile Rose Green (NZL)
  11. Anaya Evans & Daisy Mumby (ENG)
  12. Katie Lindstrom & Samantha Parrish (USA)
  13. Q. Maria Hanabadi & Terina Hauraki (NZL)
  14. Q. Delaney Peranich & Maya Gessner (USA)
  15. Anna Harrison & Danielle Quigley (NZL)
  16. Devon May & Kaitlin Lomas (CAN)

 

The Kiwi men were less fortunate with no additional teams from New Zealand making it through to the main round. The closest Kiwi pair was Juraj Krajci and Calum Stewart who fell to the Swedish side Isaksson/Grahn in the final round of qualifying 1-2 (21-16, 17-21, 12-15)

The remaining men's teams to qualify were Vaught/Coyle (USA), Hensler/Furrer (SUI) and Justice/Pugh (USA).

The Men's main draw action kicks off tomorrow at 8:00am when Kiwi pair Thomas Reid and John McManaway take on Jonathan Justice and Nathaniel Pugh from the United States. 

Men's Main Draw Teams

  1. Thomas Reid & John McManaway(NZL)
  2. Jake MacNeil & Alexander William Russell (CAN)
  3. Yusuke Ishijima & Kensuke Shoji (JPN)
  4. Jordan Hoppe & James Shaw (USA)
  5. Tomer Hadar & David Lanciano (ISR)
  6. Sam O'Dea & Thomas Hartles (NZL)
  7. Bradley Fuller & Gregory David Vukets (NZL)
  8. Ben Hood & D'Artagnan Potts (AUS)
  9. Cody Caldwell & Jake Urrutia (USA)
  10. Nassim Malki & Ryuichi Adachi (JPN)
  11. Garang Anyang & Justin Schumann (AUS)
  12. Q. Benjamin Vaught & Kevin Coyle (USA)
  13. James Sadlier & Daniel Kilpatrick (NZL)
  14. Q. Linus Isaksson & Theodor Grahn (SWE)
  15. Q. Ben Hensler & Noah Furrer (SUI) 
  16. Q. Jonathan Justice & Nathaniel Pugh(USA)
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