Top volleyball action at Hamilton Lake

Some of the world's top beach volleyballers will be challenged by the best Kiwis on a specially-built sand court on the edge of Hamilton Lake this weekend.

About 30 tonnes of sand, and four small grandstands will be trucked in and placed on the lawn near the Verandah Restaurant and kids' playground for the Hamilton Open leg of the New Zealand Beach Volleyball Tour.

The women's draw, with 16 teams in the main event, is particularly strong, with eight international teams, including two of the top-10 world-ranked teams of Marleen Van Iersel and Sanne Keizer (Netherlands) and Germany's Sara Goller and Laura Ludwig, winners of the leg last year.

The field is so strong three of the international teams, including the 70th-ranked Vanuatu team, will have to aim for the main draw through qualifying rounds today.

All the teams are warming up for the London Olympics.

Challenging the internationals will be all the top-ranked New Zealand teams, including Hamilton Club players Lydia McCormack (winner of the opening event at Lake Karapiro), Julia Tilley and Jessie Muggeridge.

In the men's draw, the top Kiwis Kirk Pitman and Jason Lochead (Olympic ranking 23), as well as the 2011 Hamilton Open Champions Sam and Ben O'Dea, will be challenged by Americans Jesse Rambis and Ed Ratledge, with local players Tim Kirk, Kenny Hellyer and Viljami Kinnunen all hoping to gain direct entry into the main draw.

The four Kiwi men are working toward a mid-February Oceania Olympic Qualification series, starting at Mount Maunganui, and progressing to China, should they be successful.

Games on Saturday, as well as the qualifying event today, will also be played at Te Rapa Beach Volleyball Centre in Ashurst Park, Pukete.

On Sunday, men's and women's semifinals will start at 9am at Hamilton Lake, with the men's final scheduled for 1pm, followed by the women's final at 2pm.

Entry for the public to all venues and days is free. Families are encouraged to see a new but growing sport at its best.