Sunshine State set to deliver action packed final Super Sunday of 2021 Australian Beach Volleyball Tour

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Sunshine State set to deliver action packed final Super Sunday of 2021 Australian Beach Volleyball Tour

Coolangatta, Qld: The final of the Australian Beach Volleyball Tour has arrived on the Gold Coast, with Tokyo Olympic hopefuls out to impress.

The last major domestic tournament ahead of the Olympic Games, the top eight teams will firstly meet in Sunday morning semi finals, with the winners progressing through to the afternoon gold medal matches live on SBS HD and SBS on Demand.

World ranked number three side Taliqua Clancy and Mariafe Artacho Del Solar, who now both call Queensland home, will take on fellow Queenslanders Phoebe Bell and Jessyka Ngaumo in the semi final one. Olympians Nikki Laird and Becchara Palmer will prepare to face off against Alice Rohkamper and Stefanie Weiler in the second of the semi finals.

Rising star Jessyka Ngauamo said she’s thrilled that the finals are being held in her hometown as they look to make the most of homeground advantage.

“Being from Queensland, and this being our home beach – we’re excited for what’s ahead on Super Sunday and hope that we can do it for the home crowd,” Ngauamo said.

“We’ve got Mariafe and Taliqua in the semis tomorrow morning so Phoebe and I have got to bring our best to give ourselves a shot. We’ve just got to back ourselves, go for it and see what happens.

“The depth in the draw this year is really strong, so every game of every leg you’ve got to be on your best game,” she said,

Reigning Commonwealth Games champions Damien Schumann and Chris McHugh will be looking to make a clean sweep on Australian Beach Volleyball Tour after taking out the first three stages. But they will firstly have to meet Queensland locals Robert Reeves and Christopher Blake in the semi. Second seeds Zachery Schubert and Max Guerher will face third seeds Paul Burnett and Thomas Hodges in the second men’s semi final of the morning.

33-year-old Schumann said it always means a lot when he, and partner McHugh, return to the beach where they won gold in 2018 at the Commonwealth Games.

“It’s great to be back at Coolangatta Beach for the finals of the Australian Beach Volleyball Tour, it’s such a picturesque place to play and holds such a special place in both of our hearts,” Schumann said.

“There’s been heaps of people down here watching today so I’m looking forward to hopefully drawing a crowd again. They love their volleyball down here, so it’s really cool to get to play in front of such a good crowd,” he said.

Looking ahead to tomorrow, McHugh echoed his teammates comments, adding that they have got to be consistent in order to achieve the fourth champions title of the tour.

“For sure we’re the hunted – the boys keep coming out and giving it to us so it’s been a challenge this weekend, but it’s good to get through to the semis tomorrow,” McHugh said.

“We also know that our semi tomorrow is going to be no different, so Damo and I have got to be on the top of our game to keep moving through the tournament,” he said.

Catch all the medals action live on SBS on Demand for the bronze medal matches from 11:30am (AEST) and SBS HD1 for the gold medal matches from 2pm AEST (check local guides).

SUNDAY 14 MARCH SCHEDULE (all times AEST – local Qld)

8:00am: Competition commences
8:00am:
- Men Semifinal #1 – Damien Schumann / Chris McHugh v Robert Reeves / Christopher Blake
- Men Semifinal #2 – Max Guehrer / Zachery Schubert v Thomas Hodges / Paul Burnett
9:00am:
- Women Semifinal #1 – Mariafe Artacho Del Solar / Taliqua Clancy v Phoebe Bell / Jessyka Ngauamo
- Women Semifinal #2 – Nikki Laird / Becchara Palmer v Alice Rohkamper/Stefanie Weiler

Medal Matches (all times AEST – local Qld)