Standing just 165cm (5ft 5in) tall, Californian Tracy Lindquist is not your typical beach volleyball player. Nor is her partner, Claire Robertson, also from California, and a mere 10cm taller.
But the pair have been causing a stir at the NZ Open Beach Volleyball Championships, coming second in the mostrecent round at Mt Maunganui and third in the other three rounds.
Known for their determined defence and athleticism, the pair have higher aims for the championship finale in Auckland this weekend. And a lack of height is no excuse, they say.
"There's a lot more to the game than just being tall and hitting the ball hard," says Lindquist. "There's lots of strategy and finesse."
Robertson reckons there are even advantages: "Short people get around the court quickly."
As one of the tournament's more diminutive teams, they are not used to approaching the net to block.
"We do try and block sometimes," Robertson says. "More often we just pull back and cover half the court each."
They are focused on the tournament this weekend, but are dreading leaving the "beautiful paradise" of New Zealand.
"I think I'm going to cry when I have to leave," Robertson says. "It's so easy to forget about everything, everyone's so relaxed and friendly."
Although sand, surf and endless summers make beach volleyball "the greatest thing in the world", Lindquist says there is more to life. "We've both just finished teaching degrees."
Still, she winces at the idea of giving up quality time on the sand.
"Relief teaching will have to do for the time being, so I can take a month off and come and do this for a while."
The finals are on tomorrow at the ASB Tennis Centre in Stanley St.
