7 April, 2024
The Vanuatu National Women’s Beach Volleyball team have gone all the way and lifted the trophy at the Queensland Beach Volleyball Tour Finals in Brisbane on Saturday, which wrapped up the QBVT season for 2023/2024.
Linline Matauatu and Majabelle Lawac flew into Brisbane on Friday afternoon and hit the sand first thing on Saturday morning, seeded #1 for the tournament in the Premier Women’s division.
With a modified 8-team, 2 Pool play format, the Vanuatu pair quickly progressed through their opening matches with straight sets wins, and continued that form into the semi-final.
Bella & Lin – winners are grinners!
Results
POOL A – Matauatu/Lawac DEF Raahauge/ Hubbard 2-0 (21-7, 21-8)
POOL A – Matauatu/Lawac DEF Jankovic/De Innocentiis 2-0 (21-14, 21-16)
In the semi, it was also a 2-0 result with a commanding performance from Lin and Bella, 21-8, 21-10, putting them in the Final against their fellow POOL A team of Anna Jankovic and Alice De Innocentiis, who they had defeated in their second match of the day.
In the cool of the Brisbane evening, Lin and Bella stayed focused, and although challenged by the local pair, they took the match 21-13, 21-17.
This is yet just another step on the Team Vanuatu path to the remaining two phases of the Olympic qualifiers in June.
VVF appreciates the opportunities the national players get to compete in Australia across the summer beach volleyball tour season, that being in FIVB, national and state events, across Queensland, NSW and Victoria, as it supports the need for small nation teams to have consistent competition.
It also underlines the importance of good partnerships from sponsors, stakeholders and supporters, with a strong relationship from these foundations having been made between Australia and Vanuatu volleyball over the years.
P&O Cruises Australia has been a major sponsor and ongoing supporter of the Vanuatu Women’s National team for many years, and its senior Vice President Peter Little says that support continues because of the belief, not only in the program, but in the players themselves as role models for the Vanuatu community.
“P&O Cruises Australia is so excited to support the Vanuatu women’s Beach Volleyball team in 2024. The women are not only great athletes, they’re also powerful role models in their community, teaching girls about the benefits of leading a fit and healthy life,” he said.
“We love to give back to the destinations we visit, and we love supporting the team as they continue to aim high.”
The Team Vanuatu squad of Lin Matauatu, Bella Lawac, Sherysyn Toko and Loti Joe, will head to Thailand this week to compete in the AVC Samila Open (13-16 April) in Songkla.
They will then travel to China in May for 2 FIVB Futures events, (9-12 May, Pingtan; 16-19 May, Wuhan), ahead of the two final Olympic qualifying phases in June.
The win on Saturday was also a highlight due to the fact that it was the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace, celebrated annually on April 6, and the Vanuatu players, when they’re not training and travelling to compete, spend time supporting VVFs Volley4Change program, helping with the coaching of community groups and inclusive Paravolley sessions with the V4C Sitting volleyball program.
