MCHUGH/SCHUMANN AND LAIRD/PALMER WIN FIRST AVBT OF THE SEASON

MCHUGH/SCHUMANN AND LAIRD/PALMER WIN FIRST AVBT OF THE SEASON

Australian Beach Volleyball Tour event takes place in Cobram, Victoria

Following the South Australia Open at Glenelg Beach, last weekend saw some of the top teams in the country travel to their first Australian Beach Volleyball Tour event of the season at Thompson’s Beach, Cobram, Victoria.

The venue is located on a bend of the Murray river and the event has become famous for its courtside koalas, who usually spectate from the cool water, or the shade of the trees. Cobram saw temperatures soar to 43 degrees, so the koalas weren’t the only ones looking for water and shade.

In the men’s competition, there was a repeat final of the SA Open in Glenelg between the number 1 seeds Zachary Schubert and Max Guehrer and number 2 seeds and Commonwealth Games gold medallists, Damien Schumann and Chris McHugh.

Last week’s battle was won by the younger pairing of Schubert and Guehrer, in their first win as a pairing.

But in Cobram it was Schumann and McHugh’s turn to return to the top of the podium as they won in straight sets 2-0 (23-21, 21-12) to win the tournament without dropping a set. Both teams are based in Adelaide, train together on a daily basis and have aspirations of heading to Tokyo in the summer.

McHugh, 31, has played on the FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour since 2008 and has represented Australia at three World Championships. The blocker was happy that his team managed to perform in the hot conditions, but also appreciative of the opportunity to compete on tour again.

“Playing in our first National Tour tournament in 11 months was a great thrill and it was even better that we could come back to Thompson’s Beach on the mighty Murray River.

“The community up here has been through a lot through Covid-19 and so to be able to come and play our great sport whilst showcasing the amazing scenery is something special for all.

“Damo and I played really solidly this week in tough and testing conditions with temperatures reaching 45 degrees for most of Saturday and Sunday. We can really start to see some of the hard work we have been putting in over the Covid break being put to work in games this weekend.”

McHugh and Schumann reunited in 2019 after separating following their win at the 2018 Commonwealth Games at Gold Coast, and with AVBT events being shown on live television, Schumann was delighted with the win but also the efforts of the organising team to make the event ‘world class’.

“While it was great to have a win in some really trying conditions, it was a privelege just to be out there and playing! I take my hat off to Volleyball Australia for not only managing to have an event, but a world class one at that!”

On the women’s side of the draw there was a second win in consecutive weeks for Olympians Becchara Palmer and Nicole Laird after they defeated the surprise package and 16th seeded side Caitlin Bettenay and Georgia Johnson from Queensland 2-0 (21-18, 21-19). Not only was it a second win in succession for the Adelaide based pairing, but another competition without dropping a set. Blocker, Laird was happy with how their game is progressing with hopefully a return to international volleyball on the horizon.

“We were a little uncertain if the event in Cobram was going to get off the ground due to some border closures with a couple of Covid outbreaks, but as is the way of the world at the moment we had to stay focused on our own preparation and take the competitive opportunity if it presented itself.

“We managed to play some strong volleyball through some tough conditions and were challenged in the final to maintain our quality. We are grateful that we were able to compete on the national stage again but we are even more excited for the continuation of competitive opportunities and for the ability to compete against top 10 teams in the world again soon.”

With most countries in Europe facing restrictions at the moment, Palmer was quick to show appreciation for the opportunity to play two weeks in a row.

“Nikki and I were really happy with how we built our game throughout the weekend, and also how we implemented some changes from our competition in South Australia the weekend before. I feel really lucky to have repeated competitive opportunities like this – it feels like being on tour again which is a real treat considering how up in the air the year’s competition schedule is! Conditions were pretty challenging with Sunday’s final played in 41 degree heat.”

After a change in the schedule, players will be back to Glenelg Beach once again over the 5th, 6th and 7th of February to complete once more. It is an event that will see a return to action for the familiar FIVB World Tour pairing of Taliqua Clancy and Mariafe Artacho Del Solar. The duo missed Cobram due to the event arriving a little bit too early in their training programme. The pairs return will certainly make it more difficult for Laird and Palmer, who will be looking to win their third competition in a row.

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