Reprinted from FIVB e-news, May 23, 2011
Port Vila, Vanuatu, May 21, 2011 – Vanuatu clinched both the women’s and men’s top spot at the Sub Zonal Tournament of Oceania Asia Pool B tournament of the Asian Volleyball Confederation’s Continental Beach Volleyball Cup, and qualified for the next round of the Zone, as the host team saw off both Fiji and Solomon Islands in the London 2012 Olympic qualifying tournament in Port Vila on Saturday.
Fiji finished second in the three-team tournament and joined Vanuatu in the next round of the competition while the Solomon Islands drop out after placing last. In the women’s contest, Vanuatu’s No.1 pair of Vani Miller Elwin and Linline Matauatu completed a perfect performance, winning all four contests. Vani and Linline scored two straight set wins over Fiji 2’s Salascini Les iananai/Vinaina Diroiroi (21-0, 21-3) and Fiji 1’s Mereoni Lewesi/Lais iyana Gonerogo (21-14, 21-12). On Friday, the Vanuatu pair recorded 21-8, 21-8 and 21-4, 21-3 wins over Soloman Island 1’s Evalita Reuben/Rose Gwali and Hazel Hauirae/Surita Kemaiki. Vani and Linline’s team mates Joyce Joshua/Leslie Ler also did well as they won all four matches over their opponents from Fiji and Solomon Island without losing a single set. Earlier, Fiji defeated the Solomon Islands 3-1, clinching their first victory and ensuring their berth in the next round. On Friday, Mereoni Lewesi/Laisiyana Gonerogo from Fiji defeated Solomon Islands 2's Hazel Haui rae/Surita Kemaiki 2-0 (21-2, 21-9) in 20 minutes before Solomon Islands pulled a match back with Evalita Reuben/Rose Gwali outclassing Salas Les iananai/Vinaina Di roi roi 21-6, 21-15 in second match. However Fiji showed impressive physical strength and excellent tactics on Saturday to defeat the Solomon Islands in their last two matches. Meanwhile, Vanuatu’s men topped their division with flawless wins, beating Fiji and the Solomon Islands, both by 3-1, in the competition. Fiji finished in second place with a record of one win and one defeat after beating the Solomon Islands 3-1 while winless Solomon Islands finished third. The veteran tandem of Joe Joel and Rio Lesines contributed to Vanuatu's success by winning both their matches against their opponents from Fiji. Fiji 1 Aisake Raratabu and Waisale Suka started well with a 2-0 (21-16, 21-14) victory over Vanuatu 2 Jean Paul Massesy/Pieric Lesines in 30 minutes. But Joel and Rio fought back with a 2-0 (21-6, 21-15) victory over Fiji 2’s Sepesa Leweniqila and Paula Gade and followed that with another straight sets (21-17, 21-18) success against Raratabu and Suka. Massesy and Lesines then chipped in with a win over Leweniqila and Gade 2-0 (21-13, 21-13), sealing the win for Vanuatu, their second win in the tournament, to send them to the top of the podium. Earlier, the host team defeated the Solomon Islands 3-1. Solomon Island 1’s James Waneasi and John Kaitu clinched their only victory by beating Joel/Lesines 2-0 (21-17, 23-21) in 40 minutes. Fiji had defeated the Solomon Islands 3-1 in their four contests on Friday. Fiji 1’s Raratabu and Suka defeated Godfrey Male/Maito'o Hauirae 21-7, 21-9 and edged Solomon Island 1’s James Waneasi and John Kaitu 2-0 (21-15, 21-14) while Fiji 2’s Leweniqila and Gade, who were beaten by Waneasi and Kaitu in their first match, refound their form and overcame Male/Maito'o 21-13, 21-11. Results Women Vanuatu 4, Solomon Island 0 VAN 1 bt. SOL 2 2-0 (21-4, 21-3) VAN 2 bt. SOL 1 2-0 (21-10, 21-12) VAN 1 bt. SOL 1 2-0 (21-8, 21-8) VAN 2 bt. SOL 2 2-0 (21-5, 21-9) Fiji 3, Solomon Island 1 FJI 1 bt. SOL 2 2-0 (21-2, 21-9) FJI 2 lost to SOL 1 0-2 (6-21, 15-21) FJI 1 bt. SOL 1 2-0 (21-0, 21-0) FJI 2 bt. SOL 2 2-0 (21-5, 21-11) Vanuatu 4, Fiji 0 VAN 1 bt. FJI 2 2-0 (21-0, 21-3) VAN 2 bt. FJI 1 2-0 (22-20, 21-11) VAN 1 bt. FJI 1 2-0 (21-14, 21-12) VAN 2 bt. FJI 2 2-0 (21-5, 21-12) Men Vanuatu 3, Solomon Island 1 VAN 1 vs. SOL 2 2-0 (21-10, 21-5) VAN 2 vs. SOL 1 2-0 (21-14, 21-12) VAN 1 vs. SOL 1 0-2 (17-21, 13-21) VAN 2 vs. SOL 2 2-0 (21-2, 21-5) Fiji 3, Solomon Island 1 FJI 1 vs. SOL 2 2-0 (21-7, 21-9) FJI 2 vs. SOL 1 0-2 (15-21, 8-21) FJI 1 vs. SOL 1 2-0 (21-15, 21-14) FJI 2 vs. SOL 2 2-0 (21-13, 21-11) Fiji 1, Vanuatu 3 FJI 1 vs. VAN 2 0-2 (21-16, 21-14) FJI 2 vs. VAN 1 0-2 (6-21, 15-21) FJI 1 vs. VAN 1 2-0 (17-21, 18-21) FJI 2 vs. VAN 2 2-0 (13-21, 13-21)
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