New Zealand’s next generation of beach volleyball stars have made waves on the international stage, walking away from the AVC U21 Asian Beach Volleyball Championships with pride and a podium finish.
All three of our U21 teams finished in the top 16, with both women’s pairs making it through to the quarterfinals. The standout performance came from Tineke Hinton and Kiana Stevenson, who claimed a hard-fought bronze medal in a tense two-set thriller. Their win not only marks a significant achievement in their personal journeys but also secures New Zealand a coveted women’s spot at the 2025 FIVB U21 World Championships, set to be held in Mexico from October 15 to 19, 2025.
This result is a major milestone for the U21 beach volleyball programme and a sign of the exciting momentum building within the high-performance space.
A key driver of this progress is the NZ A Programme, a performance pathway established to bridge the gap between age group success and senior international representation. The programme creates structured opportunities for emerging talent to access international tournaments, performance coaching, and development camps. For many of these athletes, it’s their first step into the high-performance environment, providing essential experience and exposure on the world stage.
For Coach Antonia Harrison, this campaign also marked a full-circle moment. Having once competed at this very tournament herself in 2017 alongside former playing partner Emma Flynn, she now helps guide the next generation through the same pathway that shaped her own volleyball journey.
“It was an incredible trip. Competing at the Qingdao World Tour Futures before the U21 qualification gave our athletes great exposure and preparation. I couldn’t be prouder of how they carried themselves both on and off the sand. We faced a lot of adversity, especially with the heat mid-match, but like true Kiwis, the athletes were resilient and gave it everything. What stood out even more was how they supported each other through the highs and lows and built connections with players from across the region.”
Looking ahead to the World Champs, Antonia said the qualification proves how far the New Zealand beach volleyball scene has come and how important a clear pathway is for continued growth.
“To show we can compete so strongly with the best in Asia across both the men’s and women’s sides is huge. And now to earn the right to compete on the world stage, it’s going to be an incredible experience. It speaks to the commitment, work ethic, and sacrifices not just from the athletes, but their whānau and support networks too.”
Reflecting on the tournament, bronze medalist Kiana Stevenson said the heat was like nothing she’d experienced before.
“The heat was next level,” said Kiana. “I’ve played in different countries before, but that heat was super intense to play in. It honestly made such a difference having Antonia keeping us hydrated at every end.”
When asked how she and Tineke clawed their way back during moments they were trailing, Kiana credited the trust they had in each other and the way they backed one another, point by point.
“Antonia was so good at reminding us to just win our end and take it one point at a time. That helped us stay calm and focused, even when we were down by 6 or 7. We never gave up, and that’s what got us through those tough moments.”
Kiana also spoke about the impact of the New Zealand supporters on and off the court.
“Having the NZ support and all the Kiwi spectators there made such a big difference. And knowing people were backing us from home too, it makes you feel valued and important. That support gives you that extra 1% of energy, and sometimes that’s all you need to win.”
With eyes now set on Mexico 2025, this generation of beach volleyballers has made it clear they’re ready to take on the world.
Want to support the future of Kiwi beach volleyball?
If you’re interested in helping our U21 programme continue to grow and reach the world stage, please get in touch: ella@volleyballnz.org.nz
