KEY POINTS:
A top field will assemble at Matarangi Beach for the first leg of the pro beach volleyball tour tomorrow and Wednesday.
Among the international teams to play in the tour are the world's ninth-ranked Estonia pair Kristjan Kais and Rivo Vesik, the tall United States combination of Ed Ratledge and Dave Fischer, accomplished Australians Shanon Zunker and Steve Hannan and New Caledonia's Jonathan Taoupoulou and Fayssen Wea.
New Zealand's top team, Kirk Pitman and Jason Lochhead, from Tauranga, will have a tough time defending their Matarangi title.
They have been in outstanding form lately though, winning the first leg of the Australian tour at Manly Beach in late November.
Craig Seuseu (Auckland) and Brendon Heath (Tauranga) and New Plymouth's Russell Watson and Greg Lyndsay-Brown are the other strong local teams in the competition.
The women's field appears an even one with three international sides and two local teams in the race for the title.
Australian Nicole Sanderson has an impressive record on the world stage in recent years. She won a bronze medal at the 2003 world championships in Brazil, and was fourth at the 2004 Athens Olympics. Fellow Queenslander Nicole Soloman will partner her at Matarangi.
Tracy Lindquist is back in New Zealand for her third national tour after a strong season on the American Volleyball Professional (AVP) Tour. Highly regarded front court player Ashley Ivy will partner her at Matarangi.
Another strong combination from the AVP circuit are Diane Pascua and Heide Illustre, representing the Philippines.
The New Zealand sides are experienced and have plenty of height. At 1.89m and 1.87m respectively, Susan Blundell (Tauranga) and netballer Anna Scarlett (Auckland) will be a major force this year.
Blundell was a runner-up in Matarangi last year.
The country's most experienced women's player, Lucy Todd (Christchurch), teams up with the hard-hitting and strong-serving Marnie Grant (Tauranga).
Tour organisers Dave Mee and Neil Purdon are delighted with the quality of the field.
"We are looking forward to seeing if Kirk Pitman and Jason Lochhead can defend their Matarangi title against strong international competition, and how Susan Blundell and Anna Scarlett combine in the women's field."
The Matarangi tournament is the first leg of the five-tournament North Island tour this month.
- NZPA
