Brothers selected for beach volleyball

Ben and Sam O’Dea, the New Zealand men’s beach volleyball team.

Choosing the Mount Maunganui Main Beach for the announcement and interviews with the O'Dea brothers, the NZ men's beach volleyball team for the Commonwealth Games, didn't make allowance for the stiff breeze from ex tropical cyclone Gita blowing across the beach today.

The volleyball net was set up for the photo opportunity, but the wind ruled out action shots for Sam and Ben O'Dea, who are both from Tauranga.

They went to Otumoetai College and when younger were once young nippers at the Mount Maunganui Surf Life Saving Club.

They started out in beach volleyball at college following older brother Matt into the sport.

'We played every sport going, kiwi kids. But I think it was the friends that we had in high school, the coaches, that kind of kept us going,” says Sam.

'Then we had some success when we were younger so it was easier when you have success to keep going.”

Beach volleyball is making its Commonwealth Games debut at Gold Coast 2018 and the O'Deas will join the women's pair of Shaunna Polley and Kelsie Wills to complete the New Zealand team.

Ben, the younger of the brothers at 25 years old, and at 195cm lightly shorter than his 2m tall brother, is eyeing his first Commonwealth Games experience with confidence.

'We are seeded fourth behind Canada, Australia and England. Canada are our closest competition and we have been back and forth in close games against the Australian teams for the past few years. England are also a solid outfit, but we are aiming for gold,” says Ben.

Injury has resulted in a relatively quiet competitive season, but they have been working hard to ensure they're in the best form.

A shoulder injury forced Ben to refrain from major international competitions for much of 2017 but he has enjoyed success on an international level over the past few years, including winning the AVC Beach Tour overall title.

'While we haven't competed much this year we have been training a lot so we are excited to compete,” said Ben.

They see the Commonwealth Games as an important milestone in their long term goal of representing New Zealand at the Olympic Games.

'Being selected for the Commonwealth Games is special, and with it being the first time beach volleyball has been played at the Commonwealth Games makes it even more exciting.”

Sam has enjoyed multiples success on an international level, winning the Asian Championships in 2011 and the Oceania Championships in 2015 as well as holding the national championship title from 2010 to 2015. He will be teaming up with his younger brother Ben for the Commonwealth Games.

He has played against the Japan national team in competition at the Tokyo Olympic Games site, and he wants to go back as a New Zealand Olympian.

Sam also holds a degree in Sport and Recreation and is currently studying to become a chiropractor as well as working for the Weetbix Kid's Tryathalon.

"The O'Dea brothers are very well known in beach volleyball circles around the world and I'm excited to see them compete at a pinnacle event in just under two months' time," says NZOC CEO Kereyn Smith.

Beach Volleyball will be contested April 6th to 12th at the Commonwealth Games.

It's hoped 250 athletes will represent New Zealand at Gold Coast 2018, making it our largest ever Commonwealth Games team.

New Zealand athletes are aiming to compete in 18 sports (including four para disciplines) with selection to take place from November 2017 – March 2018.

For the first-time women's rugby sevens will be on the programme as well as beach volleyball. Basketball is back on the programme after a 12 year hiatus.

The Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games will be the largest sporting event Australia will see this decade and the biggest sporting spectacle the Gold Coast has ever seen.

The games will be contested between April 4th – 15th 2018, with more than 6,600 athletes and team officials to take part.

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