By Ross McNaughton
Local teams fell at the final hurdle at the New Zealand Beach Volleyball Open in Auckland today.
The young pairing of Ben O’Dea and Mike Watson went down to a strong Chinese team in the men’s final, while Anna Scarlett and Susan Blundell couldn’t match the world number four Germans in the women’s final.
A series of blocks from Blundell helped the world number 33 Kiwis to the first set, 21 to 15.
The experienced Americans looked to avoid Blundell in the second set, but the Kiwis were still too strong – Blundell and Scarlett taking the second set 21-17 for a straight sets victory.
“We’re pretty proud with the way we came out,” says Scarlett.
The New Zealanders faced another classy international outfit in the final, taking on Sara Goller and Lara Ludwig – ranked fourth in the world.
The Germans won the open in 2006 in their only previous visit to New Zealand, and immediately had the Kiwis on the run, as they took the first set 21-14.
Scarlett and Blundell dug deep in the second set, but the Germans responded with a clinical display to take the set 21-19 and their second New Zealand open title.
Scarlett and Blundell still searching for a New Zealand Open title, losing their third final in four years.
The young pairing of 17-year-old Ben O’Dea and 20-year-old Mike Watson carried New Zealand hopes in the men’s final.
They started strongly against Zhou Shun and Liu Wei, but the Chinese swayed the match with some powerful play at the net, edging the first set 21-19.
The Kiwis were unable to match their dominance, going down in straight sets 21-17.
3 News