Volleyball: Silence golden for brotherly team

By PETER JESSUP

Swiss brothers Martin and Paul Laciga are the second-best beach volleyball team in the world - but don't speak to each other on court in case the communication causes problems.

It will be no different as the finals of the New Zealand Open are played out at Stanley St here this weekend. The lack of emotion from the brothers, and of contact between them, is sometimes quite disturbing for opponents.

They are likely to meet Australians Lee Zahner and Julian Prosser in the mens' final on Sunday. The Swiss team are here for a holiday in the European off-season, and the Aussies, ranked ninth in the world, are in full flight.

The Australians won last time the two teams met, in the final of last year's German Open.

The best hope of an upset is the Kiwi pairing of seven-year international campaigner Craig Seuseu and new partner Kirk Pitman. Seuseu admitted yesterday that the Laciga brothers' lack of on-court action is unnerving for others.

"Usually guys are high-fives, hyping each other up when they win a point, talking about changing things when they lose. These guys are like ice. It quietens the most hyper teams against them."

As for the brothers, it's no big deal.

"It's not a problem for us to not talk," said 30-year-old Paul Laciga of his relationship with 26-year-old Martin. "It's to avoid a problem that we don't talk."

Off-court is much the same. They go separate ways.

They were at opposite ends of rooms and courts at Stanley St yesterday and were called together by the Herald for a photo. It's not so much sibling rivalry as having nothing in common - other than volleyball.

"There was no problem until we went pro," said the elder brother. They'd grown up together - though not in the same bedroom - with one older sister, and basically each has seen enough of the other since joining the tour in 1995 and having to live out of each other's pockets.

Game strategy is worked out well in advance.

"It's always the same," said Paul Laciga. "We concentrate on our game rather than worrying about the opposition."

Does it give the opposition any advantage in the battle of the top two inches?

"Psychology is the biggest part of it [the sport]," Paul said. "They [the opposition] are always wondering when we are going to talk."

They do use the behind-the-bum finger signs. One flick of one finger is enough to change to Plan B if they're losing, Paul reckoned. His take on the brotherly lack of love?

"We spend February to November every year together [on the world tour]. It's nice to speak to someone else."

Seuseu, 30, intends taking a year off the international circuit this year to heal long-term injuries. Pitman will go on the tour with another Kiwi partner but the pair intend to re-unite. They're aiming to make the semifinals in the competition starting tonight. Six international mens sides and four womens' teams are admitted to a finals field of 16 and 12 respectively, with qualifying completed yesterday.