LG-backed Scarlett and Blundell complete NZ Volleyball Tour

New Zealand’s top women’s beach volleyball combination of Anna Scarlett and Susan Blundell ended up with two wins from four tournaments when they won the first two rounds of the 2010 McEntee Hire NZ Beach Volleyball Tour. 

Anna and Susan dominated the women’s field in Wellington (9-10 January) with the pair not dropping a set all tournament, and recording convincing wins in all of their matches. 

Their skilled ball control in the blustery wind and ability to block and hit at the net proved to be the key as they dispatched the Australian pairing of Eliza Dean and Sarah Battaglene in the final 21 – 15 and 21 – 12.

At the Mt Maunganui leg of the tour Anna and Susan faced the world’s fourth-ranked team Sara Goller and Laura Ludwig (Germany). The New Zealanders produced some outstanding beach volleyball in the final, with fine serving and blocking from Blundell and brilliant back-court pick-ups by Scarlett. They held a 12-7 point advantage in the second set, but were unable to match the ball control and power of the German pair in the closing stages of the match. Scarlett and Blundell won their semi-final against fellow New Zealanders Debbie Hill and Ingrid Richter 21-15 21-12, who had earlier caused the upset of the tournament in beating the favoured German pairing of Sarah Hoppe and Katharina Culav 21-17 21-19 in the quarterfinals.

Last weekend saw Scarlett and Blundell lose narrowly at the New Zealand Open Beach Volleyball Championship in Stanley Street. The German women, who are top internationals were on form to deny Anna Scarlett and Susan Blundell their elusive Stanley Street win.  Scarlett and Blundell went down 21-14 and 21-19 to world No 4-ranked Sara Goller and Laura Ludwig.  Anna and Susan struggled through the first set but fought back in the second, with excellent serving and blocking from Blundell.