The women's pair of Alize Zeimmann and Shaunna Polley and men's duo of Sam O'Dea and Brad Fuller will form the NZ beach volleyball contingent for the Commonwealth Games at Birmingham later this month.
Zeimann and Polley have been selected after successful international seasons, with recent results including a first-place finish at the Cortegaca FIVB 1 Star in Portugal, and a fourth place finish at the 2021 Asian Championships.
Meanwhile, the relatively new pairing of O'Dea and Fuller gained selection as the No. 1 ranked men’s side domestically. The pair teamed up prior to the 2021/22 domestic season and have already clocked up impressive results, including first place at the 2022 Australian Tour Finals.
O’Dea won bronze with his brother Ben at Gold Coast 201, where beach volleyball made its Commonwealth Games debut.
"The last Commonwealth Games were awesome," said O'Dea.
"It was great to be a part of the wider team and to be in that environment and it’s great to be going back for another one.
"We're stoked and we're really driven. We want to win, we're going there to perform and we can't wait."
Polley also competed at the last Games in Australia, where she was knocked out in the quarter-finals with partner Kelsie Wills.
“It means a lot to me to get another chance to represent New Zealand at the Commonwealth Games," said Polley.
"I'm really looking forward to getting to Birmingham and showing what we're capable of, and hopefully we inspire some young Kiwis to get involved with beach volleyball as well."
Both pairs are overseas competing across Europe in their build up to the Birmingham Games.
The beach volleyball competition at Birmingham begins on June 30.
