BEACH VOLLEYBALL: Australia's top ranked beach volleyballers have enjoyed their most successful finish at a World Grand Slam event this year, both finishing fifth in Moscow.

Both combinations are playing their first full season together on the International circuit.

Olympian Louise Bawden teamed up with Queensland's Taliqua Clancy after the London Olympics, while the men's combination of Isaac Kapa and Chris McHugh spent much of last year on the Asian circuit.

Both teams have enjoyed top 10 finishes this season before Moscow, and went oh-so-close to a semi-final appearance this weekend.

Both couples found themselves matched up against more highly rated Brazilian opponents in their quarter finals, but the Australians pushed their South American opposition to tough 3-set contests.

12th-seeds Kapa and McHugh had one of the matches of the tournament, eventually succumbing to Brazilian 9th seeds Emanuel and Evandro 26-28, 26-24, 16-14.

The Australians will return to their Adelaide base this week for a stint of solid training, before heading back overseas for the final two Grand Slams of the year.