National Womenâs Beach Volleyball
For well over a decade, the National Womenâs Beach Volleyball team has performed solidly on the international stage and won many prestigious awards and accolades, including in 2014 & 2015 receiving the Pacific Team Award from the Pacific Games Council and in 2019 getting the IOC âWomen in Sportsâ award for Oceania and the Vanuatu Women Sports Team of the Year award from the Vanuatu National Olympic Committee. In addition, being selected as the UNICEF Pacific Ambassadors from 2015 to 2017, was a strong endorsement of these women as role models to the Vanuatu community.Â
In terms of success on the court, the team has medalled in each of the past FIVE Pacific Games, winning 2 Gold (2011, 2019), 1 Silver (2015) and 2 Bronze (2007, 2023) medals, with arguably their highest achievement being the Bronze medallists at consecutive Commonwealth Games (2018 & 2022). Around these major events, the team participates regularly on both the FIVB circuit and the AVC regional circuit with strong results, keeping them competitive with stronger, better resourced international opponents.
The team’s tenacity and perseverance is inspiring generations of Ni-Vanuatu girls and women to think beyond the limits of traditional boundaries and follow their dreams.
Through a sport they love, these tuff tumas (strong) women are true ambassadors for the future of Vanuatu.
Meet Sherysyn Toko
Taking to the beach volleyball courts at the age of 12, Tini, as she is affectionately known by her friends and family, has continued to gain strength. Raised on the volcanic island of Ambae, in the Penama Province, Tini knows she carries the strength and support of her province and her upbringing each time she takes to the court.Â
With on-court partner Miller Pata, Tini became both Pacific and Oceania Champions early in her career, as well as winning a Commonwealth Games bronze medal in Birmingham in 2022. Following Miller’s retirement from playing in 2023, Tini now leads the national women’s team, playing with Majabelle Lawac on the international stage and continuing to be competitive, knowing that when you aim high, and set your goals, you can make it.
Meet Majabelle Lawac
Majabelle Lawac is one of the lead pair representing Vanuatu in Beach Volleyball on the international stage.
Majabelle represents the next wave of talent in women’s sport to come out of Vanuatu. The youngest member of the elite team, Bella, as her teammates call her, takes to the court with passion and commitment.Â
Eager to learn from the leaders in her team, she commits to her training and on court performance with the dedication of a champion. Now under the guidance of new national coach, former teammate and Vanuatu beach volleyball champion Miller Pata, Bella continues to develop her game, using her natural talent as a basis to develop the skills she is learning in both technique and game strategy.
Gaining valuable experience at all levels on the international stage, Bella has played and succeeded at Pacific Games and Oceania Championship level, as well as taking lessons learned from the demanding Olympic qualification process and has become a key member of the national women’s team.
