Ōtūmoetai College pair win 2020 NZSS Beach Volleyball Champs

Ōtūmoetai College students Larissa Meads and Rose Akkerman in action at the Secondary Schools Beach Volleyball Championships at the weekend. Photo / George Novak

Ōtūmoetai College Year 13 students Larissa Meads and Rose Akkerman are no strangers to volleyball final battles - but they've found themselves coming off second best more times than on top in recent times.

They were able to switch that around at the weekend, taking out the 2020 New Zealand Secondary School Beach Volleyball Championships, at Mount Maunganui's Main Beach on Saturday and Sunday, in front a huge crowd of supporters.

They played St Andrews' Kate Allan and Marijke Hinton in the final, winning in three sets. They took out the first set 21-13, went down in the second 21-19 and then came back in the third 15-9.

The pair were coached in their final by Akkerman's dad Mike, who is no stranger to volleyball success, having played for New Zealand and coached national teams.

Akkerman says to win gold after many second placings in beach and indoor volleyball over the years was an amazing moment, one that was made even more special by the number of people who were there to support her and Meads.

"It's honestly such an indescribable feeling," Akkerman says.

Akkerman says both of hers and Meads' friends and family members were watching that final, along with their school's sports department.

"We had so many people ... a whole bunch of people came to support us."

The New Zealand Secondary Schools Beach Volleyball Championships are the pinnacle of beach volleyball competitions for secondary school students. Athletes come from around the country to battle it out on the sandy courts.

"It was really cool to play the best of the best," Akkerman says.

In the senior boys' division, Tauranga Boys' College's Scott Shipton and Grady Forbes played Hillcrest's Jarod Roberts and Kyle Smith for the top spot, but went down in the final. Tauranga took the first set 25-23 but Hillcrest took the next two sets, 21-14 and 15-10.

There were 32 courts in action during the weekend, and some will remain up for the next event on the Main Beach, the Mauao Super Slam from February 7-9, held as part of the New Zealand Beach Tour. It also means Akkerman won't get much of a rest as she's competing in the open women's division.

Mauao Slam organiser Dave Miller says students playing in the open categories of the New Zealand Beach Tour allows the players to push themself and get used to playing tough competition, which helps their future in the sport.