BEACH VOLLEYBALL: Victoria’s Damien Schumann and Joshua Court have struck the first blow in a 2016 beach volleyball campaign they hope will take them to the Rio Olympics.
Schumann and Court overcame their two main rival teams to take gold at the South Australian Open in Adelaide.
They beat former Danish international Bo Soderberg and Western Australia’s Cole Durant 21-18, 21-16 in the semi-final, and then beat top seeds Chris McHugh and Isaac Kapa 21-16, 24-22 in the final.
Although the SA Open result will have no bearing on Olympic qualification, the win will be an important psychological boost for Schumann and Court over their two Rio rivals.
“We’re just so happy we could play consistent at the back end of the tournament,” Schumann said.
“We know our best game can take it up to anyone, and today it all came together for us.
“It doesn’t mean too much for the bigger picture this year, we just have to concentrate on improving and playing at our best.”
Internationals Michaela Vorlova and Lucia Michalovicova proved too strong for 2012 Olympian Becchara Palmer and her partner, 2014 Youth Olympian Britt Kendall, in the women’s final at Glenelg Beach.
Vorlova, of the Czech Republic, and Slovakia’s Michalovicova, did not drop a set for the entire weekend on their way to a 21-12, 21-19 win over Palmer and Kendall.
Australia’s top ranked women’s teams, Louise Bawden and Taliqua Clancy, and Mariafe Artacho del Solar and Nikki Laird, were not available for the Adelaide event.
The Australian beach tour will head to Surfers Paradise next weekend for the Queensland Open.
Ross Solly
Volleyball Australia
