New Zealand to host India in beach volleyball series
Beach Volleyball is about to make a big impression with four days of international play between New Zealand India.
The two-leg series against India at North Harbour and Mt Maunganui is part of the celebrations marking 100 years of Unity Through Sport between New Zealand and India.
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The series marks a century of sporting connection between the two nations. It gives Kiwi fans the chance to see international beach volleyball on home sand, and it gives some of our emerging athletes valuable experience against international opposition.
The New Zealand squad mixes experienced internationals with some of the country’s brightest young talent.
Current Beach Fern Olivia MacDonald will play both legs. She brings international experience to the series and will partner with a different rising star at each venue.
MacDonald has been competing in beach volleyball around the globe, including well over half a dozen nations in 2026 and the World Championships last year.
Lani Rawle joins her on the sand in Auckland, and Meile-Rose Green takes the court with her in Tauranga. Both have played internationally this year: Meile-Rose is ranked fifth on the Asian Tour and Lani is ranked ninth.
On the men’s side, current Beach Black Sam O’Dea, a Commonwealth Games bronze medallist, leads the way at Mt Maunganui. He will partner U18 Beach athlete Cruize Satiu, a Tauranga Boys’ College student who represented New Zealand at the U18 Beach World Championships in The Hague earlier this year.
NZA athlete Noah Smith, who has also competed internationally and is ranked 5th on the Asian Tour this year, will team up with Cruize at Mt Maunaganui on Sunday.
In Auckland, NZA athlete Juraj Krajci pairs with U18 Beach athlete Kyson Norton from Rangitoto College. Krajci is a former age-group representative who won bronze at the Youth Commonwealth Games, and Kyson was part of the 2026 NZ U18 Beach squad.
Two U18 athletes in the men’s line-up show Volleyball New Zealand’s commitment to the next generation. Young players get the chance to compete alongside experienced team-mates while representing their country on home soil.
The whole series is viewed as a huge bonus for the sport according to Volleyball New Zealand CEO Debbie Hyland.
"It's a huge opportunity to be included in 100 Years of Unity through sport between New Zealand and India. In beach volleyball, India is a sleeping giant and rapidly growing. It will be a good test for New Zealand," said Hyland.
Having an international tour player such as Liv McDonnell playing at both Auckland and Tauranga is great. She adds so much to the sport and has respect among peers and is a leader in the sport in Aotearoa. She's someone fans should get along to watch.
It's early in our domestic season, but a great opportunity to promote the SP and the contest between both New Zealand and our mix of young players and more experienced athletes."
The Indian cricket team are playing the fourth ODI international against the Black Caps on Friday 13 November at Mt Maunganui and the fifth ODI on Sunday 15 November also at Mt Maunganui creating a hub of sporting contests between New Zealand and India
Location, Date and times:
Auckland, Mairangi Bay Beach Centre: Thursday 12, Friday 13 November starting at 1.30pm
Tauranga, Mount Maunganui Main Beach: Saturday 14 November games starting at 1.30pm and Sunday 15 November games starting at 10.30am
The Teams:
Women:
North Harbour;
Olivia MacDonald: current Beach Fern
Lani Rawle: NZA athlete
Mt Maunganui;
Olivia MacDonald: current Beach Fern
Meile-Rose Green: NZA athlete
Men:
North Harbour:
Juraj Krajci: NZA athlete
Kyson Norton: U18 Beach athlete
Mt Maunganui:
Sam O’Dea: current Beach Black
Cruize Satiu: U18 Beach athlete
Noah Smith: NZA athlete
Cruize Satiu: U18 Beach athlete
India team selection
Men's Beach Volleyball Team:
• Barath Somu
• Rajesh Vinayagamoorthy
Women's Beach Volleyball Team:
• Pavithra Sudalaikasi
• Deepika Kandasamy
