“I'm excited about the Gisborne tournament coming up.”
The main court will be on the beach in front of the Midway Surf Life Saving Club and other matches will be on the seven courts in the sand track on the other side of Centennial Marine Drive.
Tilley hopes the weather plays ball — it's forecast to be OK — and that passers-by will catch some of the action, which spectators can view free of charge.
Tour organiser Dave Miller, from BeachedAz Events, said 94 players took part at the Mount and he hoped for similar numbers in Gisborne.
The event includes a “Junior Joust” for under-19 players and Miller said some Gisborne teens had shown strong interest in that.
The tour has expanded this year, running across three months, and GJ Gardner Homes signed up as the principal sponsor.
Tilley and Polley defeated American pair Ivey Schmitt and Sarah Seiber in the final at the Mount and the Americans are expected to provide strong competition again in Gisborne.
Mike Watson, from Tauranga, and Auckland's Johann Timmer won the men's title at the Mauao Slam.
Miller said opportunities for athletes were improving in beach volleyball.
Beach volleyball had joined indoor volleyball at the Olympic Games and universities in the United States offered scholarships in both sports.
Beach volleyball made its debut at the Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast in 2018 and has been included again for the Birmingham 2022 Games.
Support for the sport tailed off in New Zealand in recent years but Tilley said momentum had returned with the expanded tour.
Trust Tairawhiti put money towards the Gisborne event.
The first game in the main draw starts at 9am tomorrow, semifinals are due to start on Sunday at 10am and the finals, from 2pm.
