Small steps to a big dream

TEAMWORK: Shaunna Polley (left) and Julia Tilley in competitive beach volleyball action. The No.1-ranked women’s pair in the country have a slight chance of qualifying for the 2016 Rio Olympics but are focused more on the 2020 Games in Tokyo. Picture supplied

GISBORNE’S Julia Tilley and Hamilton’s Shaunna Polley are New Zealand’s top-ranked women’s beach volleyballers. But the pair, who teamed up four years ago, have their sights set much higher than New Zealand.

“There’s a sliver of hope for the 2016 Rio Olympics but 2020 Olympics (Tokyo) is a more realistic goal,” said 21-year-old Polley, as they prepare to leave next week for phase 2 of 2016 Olympic Games qualifying in Rarotonga.

“There are four phases, but if we won phase 2 we would automatically go through to phase 4 in Australia.”

Tilley (26) said their focus was on small steps towards the big goal rather than thinking about 2020.

“Over the next couple of years we want to cement our ranking as the top paring in New Zealand, then aim for top three on the Asian tour and do well in Australasia. It’s a step-by-step plan.”

The pair have been in Gisborne this week promoting the Sanitarium Weet-Bix Kids TRYathlon here on February 16. They recently returned from phase 1 of Olympic qualifying in the Philippines and Hong Kong.

“The Philippines was called the Fit to Hit invitational tournament and was played in Manila,” said Tilley. “We finished first, which was a big win for us.

“We then went on to the Asian championships in Hong Kong, where we got knocked out by the top seeds in our crossover round and finished ninth. They’re ranked in the world top 20 but we were competitive (21-14 21-14).

“I believe we have the raw talent. The difference is the time the professionals spend on the beach — training up to 40 hours a week. In our peak time, December/January, we try to fit in at least one training session per day for five days. At best we get two two-hour sessions each day for three days.”

Finance the barrierWhile both would love to be full-time beach volleyballers, finance is a huge barrier.

“It all comes down to money,” said Shaunna. “We wouldn’t have been able to go to the Philippines and Hong Kong if it had not been for the financial support we received from Ebert Construction.”

Tilley: “To get better we have to compete more often against the top teams and that means travelling. It might sound like a glamorous life but it’s definitely not. We’ve been to competitions where we’ve only seen the inside of a motel and the volleyball court. We don’t have a lot of time to sightsee and being away from home means we often miss out on family reunions, birthdays, weddings etc.

“It’s a catch-22 situation. We have to work to pay for our travelling but we need to stop work to put more hours into training.”

Polley said a change of base was another future option.

“As Julia said, it’s all about small steps, and one of those steps could be a move to California. We spent a month there in August, competing and training, and beach volleyball is big in the States.”

“It’s like a marriage. You work hard at it and keep communicating.

I’m the loud one, like to shout and psych myself up before

and during games, whereas Shaunna is the quiet one."Tilley, who took up indoor volleyball at Campion College, said their preparation for Rarotonga would include games against Vanuatu teams in Mount Maunganui.

“They’re very good teams so it will be good for us.”

Polley started playing indoor volleyball while at Fraser High School in Hamilton.

“I was 13 and coached by my dad before taking up beach volleyball at 16. I started taking it more seriously at 18.

“Before volleyball I played hockey for the Waikato under-18 team but it was around that time that I had to make a big decision. The hockey team were going to a tournament in Wellington and the NZ u19 beach volleyball team were going to the States.

“Mum wasn’t pleased that I chose volleyball and even now she still tries to get me to turn out for the hockey team.”

In the four years they had been together, Tilley said they “had their moments” but most of the time get on well.

“At first she thought I was having a go at her but now I let her get on with getting into the zone her own way.”

Polley laughed as she said her boyfriend said she spends more time with Julia than him.

“We get on well. You have to when you’re travelling around and competing.”