NBVA #1 - Good games, good party

08-Oct-2008

The Northern Beaches Volleyball Association (NBVA) served up their first tournament of the ‘08/’09 season over the very busy long weekend in Manly. The now famous local sporting organisation celebrated their 20th year with a large turnout to their 1st of 10 tournaments to be held on Manly beach up until the ANZAC long weekend in April.

With the Annual Jazz Festival providing the smooth tunes in the background, Sydney’s most talented beach volleyball athletes displayed all of their skills in the one day tournament, much to the appreciation of the large crowds in Manly enjoying the beach, jazz and eventually the historic win by the Sea Eagles in the NRL Grand Final.
The Women’s AA division was packed with our local National Tour players – Hannah Rohkamper, Katie Bartolie, Eliza Dean, Mariafe Artacho and Sarah Battaglene the NBVA Champion from last year. At the end of a long day well know Manly youngster Katie Bartolie and Eliza Dean won over Pip Soulsby and Jacinta Mitchard.

The Men’s AA draw saw two of Australian beach volleyball’s better know stalwarts, Andy McCombe and Paul Bourne, come head to head in the final. Andy teamed up with Will Veenhuyzen and Paul found a new partner in Martin Stritzker. Paul and Martin won the first NBVA Tourney in the new season in a strong final with a lot of spectacular rallies watched by many along the wall.

The youngsters Cody Spencer and Amy Milton had a tight final in the women’s A division losing again Alicia Corless and Kylie Fraser Women’s National Tour Player Nat Frostick and Nis Paulsen won a clear final over Francois Bertoliatti and Andrew Markezic in the Men’s A division.

The weekend’s tournament was a brilliant start to the much anticipated season ahead which this year will also include a visit by Australia’s very best, challenged by several of the world’s elite, in the Australian National Tour Championships to be held on Manly beach in March.

With the weather warming up and participation numbers rising, beach volleyball on the northern beaches is set for its biggest summer yet. For information on how to join in the fun whether it be to learn how to play or to register for the next scheduled tournament on the Sunday, 9/11/2008, log on to the Northern Beaches Volleyball Association website nbva.org.au.