Mount Maunganui Main Beach was alive with energy over the weekend as 46 beach volleyball teams took to the sand, battling it out across Division 1 and the Main Draw for both Men’s and Women’s.
The Bay turned on stunning weather from the qualifiers through to the Main Draw finals—perfect conditions for both players and spectators. It was inspiring to see the next generation stepping up alongside some of New Zealand’s top athletes from the NZ A and High-Performance Squads, all leaving it all on the court in hopes to claim a top spot.
Beach volleyball in Aotearoa has always had a strong whānau vibe, and this weekend was no different. The O’Dea brothers both made it to the semifinals with their respective teams, while the mother-and-son duo of Susan and Juruj who both competed in the Mian Draw of this event showed that volleyball truly runs in the family.
Adding to the epic atmosphere, the Tauranga community turned up in force to support the action, and the Fruju Happy Hour was the perfect way to cool off between matches!
A massive shoutout to G.J. Gardner Homes, Tip Top, and Bach Care for their incredible support of our National Tour. Next weekend we see New Zealand Secondary Schools take the sand in Tauranga but the National Beach Tour will see athletes competing in Christchurch from the 14th-16th February.
Results Below
Main Draw Women's
Gold - Stevenson / Quigley
Silver - MacDonald / Green
Bronze - Betschart (SUI)/Dieckmann(GER)
Main Draw Men's
Gold - O'dea / gleed
Silver - McManaway / Hartles
Bronze - Sadlier / Karjci
Women's Divison 1
Gold - Hauraki / Tresoldi
Silver - Akkerman / Watts
Bronze - Tw Wano - Greensill / Growden
Men's Division 1
Gold - Tepstov / Martins
Silver - Preston / Tiplady
Bronze - Kilpatrick / Alberti
