The New Zealand team at the U-19 World Beach Championships in China have finished their competition after the pool phase of the event on Thursday and Friday (NZ time).

New Zealand earned a spot at the event at the age group Asian Championships earlier this year, with Liam Smith and Thomas Vesty teaming up to represent Poirewa Aotearoa in Shangluo.

The duo opened their Pool F campaign on Wednesday with a loss to Uruguay’s Rodriguez/Rubio pairing 21-19, 21-13.

Smith and Vesty’s second match on Thursday was a tight three-set tussle with Italians Zoeschg/Iurisci which saw the Kiwis take the second set 21-19 before falling 15-9 in the third. The Italians finished top of the pool with an unbeaten record.

The pair then backed up later in the day, facing the Chilean pair Brain/Brain and falling 21-16, 21-14 to finish their campaign at the event.

Volleyball New Zealand is proud to announce the selection of Liam Smith from Waikato and Thomas Vesty from Canterbury for the FIVB Beach Volleyball U-19 World Championships.

The World Championships will take place in Shangluo, China, from August 27 to September 1, 2024.

Smith and Vesty were chosen after a recent selection process and will be coached by the experienced Luis Paulo Santana, who brings international coaching experience from his previous coaching stint at the World Championships in 2022.

“It wasn't an easy decision to select two players from the pool of talent available,” said Santana.

“However, I am confident in Liam and Thomas' game and look forward to working with them as we prepare for the World Championships.”

Santos reflects on his past experience coaching at the World Championships and how it will benefit the team’s preparation.

“My previous experience at the World Championships provides me with invaluable insights. My goal is to guide Liam and Tom effectively, ensuring they are well-prepared and confident to compete.”

New Zealand Volleyball extends its best wishes to Liam Smith, Thomas Vesty, and coach Luis Paulo Santana as they embark on their journey to China. 

World U-19 Beach Championships 2024
Shangluo, China
August 27-Sept 1

Thomas Vesty - Canterbury
Liam Smith - Waikato

Coach: Luis Paulo Santana

Volleyball New Zealand has qualified for the Men’s U-19 World Beach Championships after Sunday’s final day at the Asian Championships in Roi et, Thailand.

In the Men’s event, Poirewa Aotearoa have earned a place in the main draw of the World Championships in China later this year via the 21-7, 21-18 playoff victory of Thomas Vesty and Davi Pacheco over Adam/Low of Malaysia.

The pair finish the Asian Championships in fifth place having been seeded 23^rd for the beginning of the competition, topping their pool before reaching the quarter-final stage. The result is tied for the best-ever Aotearoa finish at the event, equalling the 2016 effort of Greg Vukets and Daniel Kilpatrick.

Pacheco says he and Vesty are thrilled with what was accomplished in Thailand and the support from the team and coaches was pivotal in challenging conditions.

“[We are] very proud of our work here and cannot wait to see what the future has in store for us,” Pachecho said.

“I’m glad we came a week early to prepare and get used to the heat, food and environment. Most of us got sick in the first week so it was good to get it out of the way before the tournament.

“I want to thank all the other athletes on this trip for making it such an incredible experience. I’m extremely proud of all of us and what we have achieved here.

“Also, a huge thank you to Luis for helping us achieve the things we have and for having our backs the whole time, even when things were toughest. Massive thanks to the women’s coach, Liz, for helping us out too. Both Luis and the boys are really thankful for her support.”

Men’s U-19 Coach Luis Paulo Santana noted the preparation of the group was critical in setting a platform for the performance of the team.

“I could not be more proud of how hard all four boys worked prior the trip and through the event,” Santana said.

“We had the best environment training in Bangkok to get used to the heat and they adapted to the food and the different time schedules.

“Davi and Tom in particular put in an exceptional performance being seeded 23rd in the tournament and finishing fifth. As we head home, we will start to focus on the World Championships in China.

On the women’s side, Emma Mason and Kaia Buckley finished in a tie for 9^th place, earning a place for New Zealand in the qualification event for the World Championships while Morgan Lee and Devyn Golaboski finished in a tie for 17^th position.

U-19 Asian Beach Championships 2024
Roi et, Thailand

Men’s:

• 5^th place – Davi Pacheco/Thomas Vesty
• 9^th equal – Nathan Davies/Liam Smith

Women’s

• 9^th equal – Emma Mason/Kaia Buckley
• 17^th equal – Morgan Lee/Devyn Golaboski

The 10-strong contingent of athletes and coaches leave on Wednesday for the fifth U-19 Asian Beach Championships in Thailand.

Emma Mason and Kaia Buckley pair up as team one in the women’s event with the team two slot filled by Morgan Lee and Devyn Golaboski. The women’s teams are co-coached by Liz Hanna and Claire Stewart. Hanna will be travelling with the team for the competition.

On the men’s side, Nathan Davies and Liam Smith join forces as team one while Thomas Vesty and Davi Pacheco are team two. The group is coached by Luis Paulo Santana.

The group finalised their preparation with a camp in Auckland over the weekend of April 20-21.

The event runs in Roi et May 1-5 and the Kiwis will be following in the footsteps of several talented New Zealand players to compete at the event in the recent past.

Alice Zeimann partnered with Emily Johnstone in 2016 for New Zealand’s best finish of second place while Greg Vukets and Daniel Kilpatrick were fifth in the same year.

Last year, Charlie Dalton and Juraj Krajci were ninth while Taylah Holdem and Rosa Vesty were fifth.

The teams travel initially to Bangkok for training before moving to Roi et for the competition.

Volleyball New Zealand - U-19 Asian Beach Volleyball Championships 2024
May 1-5
Roi et, Thailand

Men's Team 1 
Nathan Davies - Volleyball Tasman
Liam Smith - Volleyball Waikato 

Men's Team 2 
Thomas Vesty – Canterbury Volleyball
Davi Pacheco – Harbour Volleyball

Men's Coach 
Luis Paulo Santana

Women’s Team 1    
Emma Mason – Canterbury Volleyball
Kaia Buckley – Harbour Volleyball

Women’s Team 2     
Morgan Lee - Canterbury Volleyball
Devyn Golaboski – Harbour Volleyball

Women’s Co-Coaches
Liz Hanna (travelling) 
Claire Stewart