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Home / Bay of Plenty Times

O'Dea wins fourth Mount Maunganui Open

By Jamie Regan
Bay of Plenty Times·
9 Jan, 2017 04:08 AM3 mins to read

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SKILFUL: Alice Bain in action on her home beach at Mount Maunganui in the final of the Bay of Plenty Times Mount Maunganui Open on Sunday. PHOTO: JULIE FITZGERALD

SKILFUL: Alice Bain in action on her home beach at Mount Maunganui in the final of the Bay of Plenty Times Mount Maunganui Open on Sunday. PHOTO: JULIE FITZGERALD

Mount Main Beach once again proved to be a top spot for beach volleyball as locals and tourists turned out to watch the Bay of Plenty Times Mount Maunganui Open on Sunday.

The women's competition was taken out by Julia Tilley and Mount Maunganui local Alice Bain, who defeated Kelsey Wills and Francesca Kirwan 2-1.

Tauranga's Sam O'Dea collected his fourth Mount Maunganui Open title in a row, while his partner Tom Hartles claimed his maiden title at the Mount after a string of second place finishes.

O'Dea and Hartles defeated Rene Kapa and Morgan Seymour, of Whakatane, in a demanding final during which the lead changed hands several times.

It was a case off ruing missed opportunities for Kapa and Morgan, who served for set point three times in the first, only for their opponents to come back and win the set 23-21.

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That gave O'Dea and Hartles some momentum going into the second set and would prove to be crucial in helping them winning it more comfortably 21-14.

However, the 2-0 final score does not tell the whole story and the match was by no means dull, as comebacks and tough conditions kept the crowd guessing.

Kapa's powerful spikes and intimidating figure at the net gave the Whakatane pair an edge in the opening exchanges, making life very difficult for their opponents, while Seymour's accurate serves proved too hot to handle for much of the match.

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The women's final was much the same story, with both pairs having a taste of the lead throughout.

Bain and partner Tilley were both happy with the win, especially with it being in such a fantastic setting.

"It's my favourite place in the world (the Mount). Nowhere else compares - just look at the backdrop," Bain said.

However, her home beach did her no favours, as everyone found the conditions testing which added to the already tough challenge presented by opponents Wills and Kirwan.

Bain and Tilley needed to keep their composure, going down 10-5 at one stage in the first set.

However, their communication and high spirits meant they came back to win a close three-setter 2-1.

"It was a trying game, especially because of the wind," Bain said.

"It's not our normal structured volleyball but it was the same for everyone. We played well and ground it out. We were also really tired having just played a three setter (semifinal).

"I have played with both of them (Wills and Kirwan) and against them and we always have really good games with them. They're powerful girls which is always fun. They're amazing."

Tournament organiser Tim Cleaver says the Mount is the perfect place for beach volleyball, especially at this time of year.

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"It is world class. Everyone loves coming here, including all the international players.

"Olympic champions have come out here to train. Sam and Ben O'Dea train out here as well so it's a great place to be," Cleaver said.

Results click here

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