New Zealand, Slovakia strike gold at Nuvali Beach Pro Tour

The Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour — Nuvali Futures concluded on a high note on Sunday, May 4, after four days of thrilling action on the sand that saw top-tier talent from around the world collide with fierce competition.

In the women’s division, it was Shaunna Polley and Olivia Macdonald of New Zealand who stood tallest, claiming gold after an impressive campaign. 

The Kiwi pair displayed superior teamwork and consistent play throughout the tournament, culminating in a finals’ victory, 21-18, 21-14, over Japan’s Sakura Ito and Mayu Sawame, who clinched silver.

Meanwhile, the bronze medal went to Lithuania’s Ieva Dumbauskaite and Gerda Grudzinskaite. They outplayed Romania’s Beata Vaida and Francesca Ioana Alupei, 21-19, 19-21, 19-17, in the third-place match to round out the podium.

The men’s division witnessed what many fans called one of the most electrifying matches of the tournament, as Slovakia’s Adrian Petruf and Lubos Nemec triumphed over Israel’s Eylon Elazar and Kevin Cuzmiciov, 21-15, 18-21, 19-17, in a gold medal showdown that had the crowd holding their breath.

With heart-thumping rallies, gravity-defying blocks, and thunderous spikes from both sides, the final was a spectacle of elite beach volleyball at its finest. Neither team gave an inch, as both refused to let the ball fall, but it was the Slovakian duo who ultimately prevailed to secure the gold.

Latvia’s Oliver Bulgacs and Markuss Graudins claimed bronze after a strong tournament showing.

Alas Pilipinas standouts James Buytrago and Rancel Varga gave local fans much to cheer for but bowed out in the quarterfinals after falling to Israel’s Elazar and Cuzmiciov in straight sets, 17-21, 15-21.

On the women’s side, fan favorites Sisi Rondina and Bernadeth Pons made a strong return to international play, advancing to the quarterfinals before being edged out by Romania’s Vaida and Alupei, 21-18, 19-21, 12-15.

The Nuvali Futures, which ran from May 1 to 4, brought world-class beach volleyball to local shores, showcasing rising international stars and homegrown talents alike. 

With the energy from the sand still lingering in the air, fans are already looking ahead to the next stop on the Beach Pro Tour.