Former beach volleyball star earns first coaching medal as Vanuatu reach Beach Pro Tour podium in Wuhan under the FIVB Empowerment programme
Vanuatu’s bronze medal at the Beach Pro Tour Futures in Wuhan Qingshan marked a significant career milestone for women’s national team coach Miller Pata, who earned her first event medal as a coach following a decorated playing career.
Pata guided Majabelle Lawac and Sherysyn Toko to a 2-1 (21-15, 7-21, 15-10) victory over China’s Lin MeiMei and Xie Hong in the bronze medal match, securing Vanuatu’s second-ever medal on the Beach Pro Tour and representing a landmark coaching achievement for Pata, a former international standout and two-time Commonwealth Games bronze medallist.
Majabelle Lawac and Sherysyn Toko win bronze at the Beach Pro Tour in Wuhan.
After stepping away from competition, Pata took on the role of national team coach, continuing her commitment to athlete development. She had already mentored youth players during her playing career, and her move into coaching was both a natural progression and a continuation of her work within the Vanuatu Volleyball Federation.
Her development has been supported through the FIVB Volleyball Empowerment programme since 2023, under an ongoing coaching contract aimed at strengthening technical capacity and expanding opportunities for women in the sport. The programme provides targeted assistance to national federations to help build sustainable performance pathways in volleyball and beach volleyball.
The transition from athlete to coach was a career milestone in itself, but Pata demonstrated she was determined to do more by following through with results. By leading her team to a podium finish, she proved her ability to compete and succeed in a new role.
She also continues to support the next generation of athletes, currently training Vanuatu’s junior development programme. Among the young players benefitting from her guidance is her own daughter, who is part of the U18 development squad – a sign of how deeply rooted her commitment to the sport remains.
She remains one of Oceania’s most recognisable figures in beach volleyball and her success in Wuhan reflects a broader impact of the Empowerment in delivering meaningful outcomes both on and off the court.
This impact also ties into the FIVB’s vision of fostering more female coaches and supporting athletes in their transition to coaching roles. With a strong emphasis on developing beach volleyball in Oceania, the FIVB has prioritised long-term growth through female leadership. Vanuatu now stands as a powerful example of that vision in action – trusting the process and achieving remarkable results.
Photo source: Vanuatu Volleyball Federation
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