Volleyball: Tasman link in beach volleyball

Transtasman pair New Zealand No 1 Tom Eade and Australian No 1 Julien Prosser are expected to make it back-to-back tournament titles at the New Zealand Open beach volleyball championships starting at Stanley St in Auckland today.

"It's been great playing with Julien. We haven't really seen much of each other this week because he brought his surfboard over and has virtually been camped at Raglan," Eade said.

"We're favourites, but that means nothing because we've got some quality players in the tournament and you just never know what happens.

"The best thing about this tournament, though, is that we can bring beach volleyball to the public in Auckland at a good venue, which is set to become the home of the New Zealand Open.

"The sport has really taken off ... and we hope by playing in Auckland we can capture the atmosphere and tension generated at the Sydney Olympics."

Organisers of the event used trucks to carry 150 cubic metres of sand to Stanley St, New Zealand's home of international tennis events.

Eade, a qualified doctor who is taking a year off the pro-circuit to concentrate on his medical work in Sydney, said the Austria's Oliver Stamm and Niki Berger would provide the greatest challenge.

The Austrians lost the final at Mt Maunganui last weekend, but were delighted to get in some North Island sightseeing.

"You never like losing when you are playing but it has been great coming down here and seeing this country," Berger said.

The pair finished ninth at the Olympics.

In the women's event, Australia's Annette Huygens-Tholens and Emma Prowse - who also competed at the Olympics - are favourites. New Zealanders Lucy Todd and Sarah Drummond are hoping to feature strongly.

The finals will be held on Sunday.

- NZPA