Shaunna Polley and Alice Zeimann have gone back to back at the Beach Pro Tour Futures in Mount Maunganui after a first-set scare.
Tom Reid and Jack McManaway (NZL), the only other Kiwis still involved on the last day of the competition were unable to get past stiff competition to claim a medal placing, finishing fourth.
The USA team of Jordan Hoppe and James Shaw claimed first place in the men's competition after defeating the young Australian pair of Ben Hood and D'Artagnan Potts 2-1(18-21, 21-9, 15-9).
Over thirty teams from across thirteen countries competed in the Beach Pro Tour Futures event in Mout Maunganui over the past four days.
After dropping the first set in front of a healthy and vocal Kiwi crowd down on Mount Maunganui Main Beach, the Kiwi pair of Shaunna Polley and Alice Zeimann were able to force a third set against the Australian pair of Stefanie Fejes and Jana Milutinovic.
A nail-biting battle continued, with every point meaning even more than the one before. Shaunna and Alice stayed cool, calm and collected in the Mount Maunganui heat, pouncing at the perfect time to take the match, winning 2-1(17-21, 21-19, 15-13)
Tom Reid and Jack McManaway were the only remaining Kiwi pair in the Men's competition come Sunday morning. Tom and Jack put up a good fight but were unable to get past eventual winners Jordan Hoppe & James Shaw in the morning's semifinal, losing in three close sets 1-2(23-25, 22-20, 11-15)
The opposition would not get any easier as they came up against another pair from the USA, Cody Caldwell and Jake Urrutia in the 3rd place match. Tom and Jack would go down to the visiting American side in two straight sets 2-0(19-21, 18-21) finishing in fourth spot.
Results
Women's Final
Shaunna Polley & Alice Zeimann (NZL) def Stefanie Fejes & Jana Milutinovic
(AUS) 2-1(17-21, 21-19, 15-13)
Women's 3rd Place
Alaina Chacon & Mariah Whalen (USA) def Avery Poppinga & Madison Shields (USA)
2-0(21-16, 22-20)
Men's Final
Jordan Hoppe & James Shaw (USA) def Ben Hood & D'Artagnan Potts (AUS)
2-1(18-21, 21-9, 15-9)
Men's 3rd Place -
Cody Caldwell & Jake Urrutia (USA) def Tom Reid & Jack McManaway (NZL)
2-0(21-19, 21-18)
Standings
Women's
1st - Shaunna Polley & Alice Zeimann (NZL)
2nd - Stefanie Fejes & Jana Milutinovic (AUS)
3rd - Alaina Chacon & Mariah Whalen (USA)
Men's
1st - Jordan Hoppe & James Shaw (USA)
2nd - Ben Hood & D'Artagnan Potts (AUS)
3rd - Cody Caldwell & Jake Urrutia (USA)
Photo by www.phototek.co.nz
