Rising stars showcase skills in Oceania beach volleyball competition

The Oceania Under-18 Beach Volleyball Championships is currently underway in Honiara, Solomon Islands, and is scheduled to end on Wednesday.

Supported by Olympic Solidarity, the Oceania Zonal Beach Volleyball tournament aims to provide a high-level competition experience, with the region having received 1.3 million Swiss francs in FIVB support so far.

Participants from 12 men’s and seven women’s teams, including Australia, Tonga, Kiribati and the Cook Islands, have gathered from across the region to compete in beach volleyball.

The teams were divided into three groups. In Pool A, Papua New Guinea dominated with a flawless 3–0 record, dispatching the hosts Solomon Islands’ Team A in straight sets. But the Solomons showed some resilience by finishing second and securing a spot in the knockout rounds.

Australia achieved three straight wins in Pool B, while Guam narrowly claimed second place with a 2–1 record. In Pool C, a three-way tie emerged among Palau, Kiribati, and another team from the Solomon Islands.

Palau ultimately moved ahead based on tiebreakers, with Kiribati and the second Solomon Islands team trailing closely behind.

Despite their best efforts, the Cook Islands men’s U18 team finished at the bottom of Pool C without a win, but they gained invaluable experience facing tougher competition.

Speaking to PMN Cook Islands, Bredon Heath, coach of the Cook Islands side, emphasised the importance of the competition for development.

“FIVB have put funding into our region to try and develop the game so it's created the opportunity for us to go, try and get some experience for our young team and hopefully take that back and grow the game back home,” Heath says.

Supporters on the ground. Photo/Facebook/Aelanlife

“[Volleyball] is still a pretty new sport in the Cook Islands and lots of people come from an indoor background and they're a little bit scared at times to take the plunge to beach volleyball.

“The idea is to try and get a bit more exposure around where it needs to be and try and show people how the game's played and have a bit more of a presence.”

Heath also says that the zonal event is the Cook Islands' first international beach volleyball competition, which could open up opportunities and pathways for the team.

“[The team’s] a young pairing so that's a good chance for them to go and learn and watch and really be sponges for the week and soak up as much as they can and try and get an idea of where they might slide into a career of beach volleyball,” Heath says.

Zachari Tuatai, from team Cook Islands and who also plays basketball, is proud to represent his country.

“I'm glad to have my friend with me as well,” Tuatai says.

With quarterfinal matchups now set for powerhouses like Australia, Papua New Guinea, and Palau, all are vying for a spot in the semifinals.

Watch Bredon Heath and Zachari Tuatai's full interview below.