Fiji Islands, Vanuatu dominate beach volley at Pacific Games

Fiji Islands and Vanuatu clinched the men's and women's beach volley gold medal at the 14th Pacific Games   Reprinted from FIVB e-News, September 12, 2011:   Noumea, New Caledonia, September 10, 2011 – Fiji clinched the gold medal of the men’s beach volleyball tournament at the 14th Pacific Games on Saturday while the pair from Vanuatu grabbed top spot in the women’s event. In the men’s finals, Aisake Balemaiamerika and Ratu Wesele Cawanikawai from Fiji came from behind to cruise past Frantz Gouzenes and Yvannick Iwa of New Caledonia 2-1 (20-22, 21-19, 15-12) and finish first in the six-day tournament that ran from September 5 to 10. The duo from Fiji entered the final after outclassing rivals Sigalu Selefuti Aitui and Sam Samasoni Sam from American Samoa 21-18, 21-10 in the semifinals, while New Caledonia booked their ticket to the final with a 2-1 (15-21, 21-16, 15-9) win over Tahiti’s Dino Tauraa and Vatea Tauraa. In the playoff for the bronze medal, Dino Tauraa andVatea Tauraa edged Sigalu Selefuti Aitui and Sam Samasoni Sam 2-1 (21-10, 23-25, 15-8). Additional links    Download high-resolution photo    FIVB home page    Beach volleyball home page