Same nations strike gold again at Gold Coast, following Mount Maunganui success
The United States’ Alaina Chacon & Morgan Chacon and New Zealand’s Ben O’Dea & John McManaway won gold on Sunday at the Beach Pro Tour Futures Coolangatta in Gold Coast, Australia, continuing a strong start to the 2025 season for both countries.
On the women’s side, sisters Alaina and Morgan Chacon came through eight matches to take the title. After advancing through two rounds of qualification, the Americans recovered from a pool play loss to Australia’s Elizabeth Alchin & Georgia Johnson to win five straight elimination matches. They defeated the same Australian duo in the semifinals 2-1 (24-22, 15-21, 15-12), before overpowering England’s Kirsty Star & Daisy Mumby in the final 2-0 (21-6, 21-16).
Earlier in the knockout rounds, the Chacons outlasted Vanuatu’s Toko & Lawac in the quarterfinals 2-1 (20-22, 21-18, 15-12) and eased past Japan’s Sakai and Tsubouchi in the round of 12. Their only loss came in pool play, where they fell 2-0 (18-21, 17-21) to Alchin & Johnson.
The gold marked a second straight podium for the Chacon sisters, who reached the semifinals in Mount Maunganui earlier this month. That run was ended by their compatriots, Jaden Whitmarsh & Devon Newberry, who went on to win the title.
The Chacon sisters claim gold at Coolangata, following their bronze medal win at Mount Maunganui.
In the men’s event, O’Dea & McManaway delivered a title-winning performance of their own. The New Zealand duo bounced back from a pool play defeat to Australia’s Benjamin Hood & Oliver Merritt 2-1 (21-19, 16-21, 13-15) to win four consecutive matches in the knockouts. They edged out Australia’s Garang Anyang & Justin Schumann in a tight semifinal 2-1 (21-15, 17-21, 15-12), before dominating Germany’s Momme Lorenz & Tilo Rietschel in the final 2-0 (21-13, 21-15).
Their road to the gold medal also included wins over USA’s Groselle & Basey in the round of 12 and Potts and Pearse (AUS) in the quarterfinals. The victory follows their gold and silver medal performances in Mount Maunganui, where O’Dea had partnered with Bradley Fuller and McManaway played alongside Thomas Hartles.
New Zealand’s beach volleyball programme is supported by FIVB Volleyball Empowerment, which has played a key role in strengthening the country’s international presence.
The Coolangatta Futures followed the season-opening tournament in Mount Maunganui, where teams from the United States and New Zealand also reached the top of the podium.
The Beach Pro Tour Futures now turns its attention to Asia and Europe. Songkhla, Thailand, will host the next stop from 8-12 April, featuring both men’s and women’s competitions. Later in the month, the women’s tour continues in Valencia, Spain, from 30 April to 5 May.
Coolangatta Futures: all results and standings
Photo source: Volleyball Australia
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