It mightn't sound much but consider this: What say you'd just been told you were selected for a major event, then you get tipped over by opponents who are rated below you by the powers that be and who had a point to prove. Call it a banana skin avoided.
Polley, the shorter of the pair, is from Hamilton, has a Bachelor of Science in chemistry, but sport has taken priority for now; Wills, from Matamata but based in Mt Maunganui, is an auditor for KPMG, having spent four years on an indoor volleyball scholarship in the United States and a year playing professionally in France.
They teamed up last March and have gelled impressively.
"We got together not really with the intention of playing together at the Commonwealth Games, but we ended up doing well so decided to continue," Polley said.
They accrued points on the Asian Tour, were fifth at the Asian champs in Thailand, and third at an event in Vietnam. Then, in what Polley admits was a bit of a gamble, and which proved a major turning point in their thinking, they headed to Europe and cracked the World Tour event in Monaco, losing in the semifinals to a Brazilian combination but it remains a highlight for her.
"It was one of those moments of 'hey we could actually do this'," Polley said.
A third placing at a one-star event in South Korea was significant and making the main draw of a big event in China in October was the final piece in the qualifying puzzle.
Polley has played the sport since she was 17; Wells, who turned 25 on January 8, is one year older. At about 1.85m, Wills provides the height crucial to any beach volleyball combinations with ambitions to make an impact.
"Purely having that height brings us to another level," Polley, who stands about 1.72m, said.
"Now we can compete with those athletes on the international stage."
She believes the other asset they have is their compatability.
"We gelled on court from the get-go. We have similar personalities and playing styles and really clicked. It's hard to get sad and down when you're winning," she quipped.
Countries are restricted to one team at the Games event.
Fields will be of 12 teams in both the men's and women's events. A men's team is expected to be named later this month.
Australia and Canada are the top-ranked nations in the women's event. New Zealand are third.
Sand is being shipped in because while plentiful on the Gold Coast, it is too fine to be conducive to good beach volleyball.
The pair have the New Zealand Open at Mairangi Bay at the end of this month before heading to Shepperton, Victoria, for a one-star event on the world circuit, then it's off to a camp in California before trying to secure a spot in the high-octane, five-star event in Fort Lauderdale at the start of March.
Even if they don't get in the field there will be quality training experiences to be had.
Debut event
• Beach Volleyball is on the Commonwealth Games programme for the first time on the Gold Coast in April.
• Shaunna Polley and Kelsie Wills are the first New Zealanders named for the event.
• There will be two 12-team competitions with countries restricted to one team in each event.
• The Commonwealth Games run from April 4-15.
