Liv and Shaunna have claimed bronze at the AVC Beach Tour Raja Ampat Open, defeating Japan’s Ren and Non in straight sets.

In a tight contest, the Beach Ferns pair stayed composed in the key moments to close it out 21–19, 21–18. It marks two podium finishes from two international events in 2026, a strong start to their campaign.

New Zealand was well represented across the tournament. Noah Smith and Michael Tyler progressed through to the quarterfinals, finishing 5th overall after a consistent run through the draw.

Meile and Grace also showed their potential, finishing 9th. They took the top-seeded Australian pair to three sets in the round of 16, pushing them all the way in one of the tighter matches of the tournament.

Across the board, it was a solid showing from the New Zealand teams, with all pairs competing deep into the tournament and gaining valuable experience against top opposition. Results like this continue to build confidence within the programme and show the depth developing across New Zealand beach volleyball on the international stage.

Article added: Friday 10 April 2026