NZ drop first game to India in beach volleyball
New Zealand and India have shared games on day two of the beach volleyball series held at Mairangai Bay on Auckland's North Shore
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 women's team again won in straight games as tour pro Olivia MacDonald and and NZ A rep Lani Rawle took a little while to find their form but then combined to out hit their opponents.
The shorter Indian pair of Pavithra Sudalaikasi and Deepika Kandasamy made the Kiwis work for their points in the sunny conditions shifting play from deep to short to upset the rhythm of the home pair.
However, the experience play of MacDonal showed through as she combined with Rawle to take the first set 21-14 and then the second 21-11. Rawle coming into her own with her direction of shots.
It was the second straight sets win for the New Zealand combination.
The men's contest looked to be heading for another straight game win for the pair of Juraj Krajci and Kyson Norton as they worked well for the first set 21-15.
The Indian pair of Barath Somu and Rajesh Vinayagamoorthy then altered the pace of play letting the ball drift in the strengthening breeze, and hitting short. A few errors crept into the young New Zealand duo as the visitors pulled away when the scores were in single figures.
Somu and Binayagamoorthy take the second set 21-9 to go into the deciding set on a roll.
The New Zealanders again found themselves at odds with the Indian play which saw plenty of variation. Only a couple of late errors let the home side get close as the Indians wrapped up the set and the match 15-9
Play now moves to Mt Maunganui with Saturday 14 November starting at 1.30pm and Sunday at 10.30am. There will be new combinations playing for New Zealand with former Commonwealth Games medallist Sam O'Dea set to take to the sand and MacDonald mentoring another up-and-coming player.
Beach Volleyball results Mairangi Bay:
Women:
New Zealand - Olivia MacDonald/Lani Rawle bt India - Pavithra Sudalaikasi/Deepika Kandasamy 21-14, 21-11
Men:
New Zealand - Juraj Krajci/Kyson Norton lost to India - Barath Somu/Rajesh Vinayagamoorthy 21-15, 9-21, 9-15
