AUSTRALIA gained a big boost well ahead of its hosting of the 2025 World Beach Volleyball Championships after sweeping the men’s podium in the Rebisco Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC) Beach Tour Second Nuvali Open in the City of Santa Rosa, Laguna.
Paul Burnett and Luke Ryan defeated Ben Hood and Oliver Merritt for the gold medal, 21-13, 21-18, on Saturday at the world-class Nuvali Sand Courts.
Reigning Asian Seniors champions D’artagnan Potts and Jack Pearse, also of Australia,, claimed the bronze with a 20-22, 21-19, 20-18 victory over Iran’s Amerali Ghalehnovi and Bahman Salemiinjehboroun.
“We’re really proud of this and really happy because it’s very important for us for the World Championships at the end of the year to do well in these Asian Tour events,” Burnett said.
Adelaide is hosting the 2025 FIVB Beach Volleyball World Championships from November 14 to 23, following the Philippines’ hosting of the 2025 FIVB Men’s Volleyball World Championship from September 12 to 28.
“We couldn’t be more proud for everyone to go one, two and three on the podium,” Burnett added.
The champions bagged $2500, the runners-up $2000 and the third placers $1500.
There’s more to it obviously than the winner’s cheque.
“We have a really competitive environment in training back home and so we always want to beat each other, really wanting to win. I think most teams went into that really wanting to come out on top.”
The 26-year-old Burnett, a Commonwealth Games gold medalist, and 20-year-old Ryan, a grant recipient from the Sport Australia Hall of Fame Scholarship and Mentoring program, looked in danger of dropping the second set after a dominating opener.
From 0-5 down, Burnett and Ryan fought to tie it at 12, took the lead for the first time at 15-14, and held on for a straight-sets win, the only two-setter in the medal round on a scorching afternoon.
Australia also won the gold medal in the women’s division as Stefanie Fejes and Jasmine Fleming overcame New Zealand’s Shaunna Polley and Olivia MacDonald, 21-13, 13-21, 17-15.
The Aussies also bagged the bronze medal as Lizzie Alchin and Georgia Johnson of Australia defeated Japan’s Asami Shiba and Reika Murakami, 21-17, 17-21, 11-15.
“We were down quite a bit in the second so I thought it might be getting close but we managed to bring it back and get it done in two, which I’m very happy about.”
