THE Solomon Islands National Beach Volleyball men and women teams are currently on a two week tour in Queensland, Australia.
This is part of the Solomon Islands Volleyball Federation preparation for the 2023 Pacific Games.
National Beach Volleyball Men & Women Team representative Barry Pugeva said the tour is a significant one for the national squad as it gives the athletes the best possible experience to work on their craft and prepare well for the Pacific’s grand sport event in the country next year.
“Beach Volleyball is a gold prospect for the country so with that comes the necessity to ensure the training squad prepare well,” Mr Pugeva said.
He said this is the first leg of the tour and already our men and women have made an impressive and convincing start.
The National women’s team have won the Queensland Volleyball Tour Round 7 Challenger Division in Surfers Paradise, Gold Coast on Saturday, following a clean sweep from the pool stages to the play offs and the grand final against an elite Australia side.
Mr Pugeva said our men’s team were eliminated in their respective quarter and semi-final spots to a superior Queensland based elite team.
“We missed an opportunity to work a route that would have helped us to either meet in the semis or the grand finals, but it is what it is, we noted the lessons for the next round,” Mr Pugeva said.
He said the Queensland Beach Volleyball Tour (QBVT) is the highest level of beach volleyball in the state, providing a competitive environment for Queensland’s elite and developing athletes.
Hosted by a range of venues reaching from the Gold Coast to North Queensland, the Tour showcases the sport to audiences across Queensland.
Mr Pugeva said since Monday this week the team had already started a five day intensive training camp at the Gold Coast Performance Centre.
He said sessions at the training camp include technical training for players and friendly matches before their trip to Bulcock Beach in Caloundra, North Brisbane for the second leg of their tour and Round 8 competition.
