MacDonald keeps NZ ahead of India in beach volleyball
India are still in contention to draw the beach volleyball competition with New Zealand going into the final day of competition at Mt Maunganui.
The series is part of the 100 Years of Unity through Sport programme between the two nations.
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After two days of play on the North Shore in Auckland the home side had a three match to one lead.
But the visiting combination of Barath Somu and Rajesh Vinayagamoorthy scored a three-game win over the New Zealand team of Sam O'Dea and Cruize Satiu in sunny conditions at the main beach, Mt Maunganui in front of a big crowd on the grass bank.
At age 36 and a former Commonwealth Games bronze medalist O'Dea teamed with Satiu who is already showing his skills in volleyball and beach volleyball but is just 17 years old.
The first set saw the Indian's combine well with Vinayagamoorthy successful with his blocks and Somu scrambling in defence to win 21-17. However, the second game had New Zealand keep in touch and then finally pull away to win 23-21 as there was more accuracy from Satiu and O'Dea as a team.
In the third set the Indian duo quickly raced out to a lead and never let up to win 15-9, their second consecutive three set victory.
The women's clash, which was second up on the sand saw touring pro Olivia MacDonald team up with 21-year-old Meile-Rose Green to easily win against Pavithra Sudalaikasi and Deepika Kandasamy 21-8, 21-12.
It was the third win in a row for MacDonald who had combined with Lani Rawle for victory on day one and two.
The contest started well for the home team with six aces in relatively quickly, five to Green and one to MacDonald as they dominated the clash and continued to be aggressive.
In the second set the Indians found some form to keep the scores close initially before MacDonald and Green pulled away.
Overall New Zealand has four wins from six matches with two more remaining on the fourth and final day starts which starts at 10.30am at Mt Maunganui.
Noah Smith and Satiu are set to play for the Kiwi men followed by MacDonald and Green who is on a volleyball scholarship in California.
Results:
Men:
New Zealand - Sam O'Dea/Cruize Satiu lost to India - Barath Somu/ Rajesh Vinayagamoorthy 17-21, 23-21, 15-9.
Women:
New Zealand - Olivia MacDonald/Meile-Rose Green beat India - Pavithra Sudalaikasi/Deepika Kandasamy 21-8, 21-12
