A Tauranga student is hoping to make New Zealand proud in the beach volleyball Commonwealth Youth Games.

Tauranga Aquinas College student Ella Akkerman, 17, is partnered with Jasmine Milton this year to represent New Zealand at the Bahamas women's doubles under 17 Commonwealth Games on July 18.

Ella says she is excited to compete against 12 other teams from all over the world and gain more experience.

'We are going to give every game 100 per cent. We're going to go into each game with the same attitude, hoping to win and try our hardest.”

'We don't know the level of the teams, but we are expecting it to be challenging. Obviously we want to beat the Australians because their Australians.”

This is the second competitive game that she has competed in, last year she entered with another partner and went to the 2016 under 17 Asian Championship in Thailand.

They didn't do as well as they had hoped, but she says she has learnt a lot from it and hopes to do better this year.

'We are more prepared this time, comfortable and confident in what we have, so now we just have to put that into play.”

She partnered with Jasmine over the New Zealand Open Women's Pro-Tour, recording three top 10 finishes, and the qualification rounds to represent New Zealand.

'We both connected really well over the summer, so we are going into the Commonwealth Games as a strong team.”

Ella has been training with Jasmine as much as possible, but when they can't be together she trains once or twice every day with her dad.

Other than competing, she says she is excited to make new friends and explore the Bahamas when she gets down time.

This is her last year at school and she is planning on taking a gap year next year in the hopes that she may get a

'It will be an awesome opportunity and will open so many doors, which is the ultimate goal.”

The two girls will be flying out of Auckland on Thursday July 13.