Vanuatu volleyball

Michael Bargmann returns to coach Vanuatu Volleyball Women’s team prior to Pacific Games

Bargmann is no stranger to the team after he coached the team in their gold medal success at the 2019 Pacific Games in Samoa.

The Vanuatu Volleyball Federation said Bargmann has returned from Germany with his young family, for 5 months to oversee the title defence.

With new Italian coach, Vanuatu beach volleyball looks to the global stage

On that day in March 2020, the sought-after coach stumbled upon an old friend, Vanuatu Volleyball Federation president Debbie Masauvakalo. The two chatted and, though she wouldn’t have guessed it then, this sheer coincidence sowed the seed for Tonon to officially become the new coach of Vanuatu’s volleyball program one year later—though it wouldn’t be quite that simple.

What followed was a saga that stretched around the world and moved logistical mountains.

Reaching Vanuatu, no matter what it takes

Frederica Tonon is Vanuatu’s new Beach Volleyball coach

Tonon replaces Michel Bargmann, who returned to Germany last year following the onset of the global Covid-19 pandemic.

VVF secured Tonon on a 12-month contract late last year.

However, Covid-19 travel restrictions delayed her travel to Vanuatu.

Tonon arrived in Port Vila early this month and spent two weeks in quarantine.

The Vanuatu Beach Volleyball team is chasing an historic Olympic qualification.

Tonon’s arrival is timely as the players have a busy schedule over the next few months.

     

Vanuatu Volleyball focuses on gender equality and disability inclusion

  The programme will also help the federation to apply for funding this year.

The Federation is now looking at other sources of funding after assistance by the Australian-government aid PSP for the Volley 4 Change programme ended last month.

The VVF is also waiting for the Federation of International Volleyball and the Asian Volleyball Confederation to release their competition calendars.

   

Vanuatu players boost community-based volleyball tournament

Eight men's and eight women's six-a-side teams have been confirmed to compete in the Indoor Volleyball Championships which got underway yesterday and will consist of 40 matches over a four week period.

Tournament director, Mike Masauvakalo, said it was great to see national players getting involved.

"We encouraged players from different communities to organise community-based teams so that they can be part of this tournament as well," he said.

Vanuatu to stage a sitting Volleyball Para Independence Championship

The event will be held at the newly refurbished National Fitness and Evacuation Centre in Port Vila.

It will commemorate the country’s 40th Anniversary of Independence,

Collaborating with VASANOC, the Vanuatu Paralympic Committee and the Vanuatu Table Tennis Federation, in association with the Smash Down Barriers table tennis sport for development programme, Vanuatu Volleyball Federation (VVF) under its Volley4Change program will join in a day of competition which underlines sport as an inclusive activity for people with disabilities.

Vanuatu Beach Volleyball engages national junior side in training

This was after the national senior team members and coaches participated at their first Mindset Workshops, earlier this month.

 Looking at long-term goals and purpose and perhaps most importantly -developing the Predator vs Prey mindset.

The Vanuatu beach volleyball women’s team has so far been the best at the sport in the Pacific after they recently won phase one of the Olympic qualification in New Zealand.

The Miller Pata-captained side continues to strive for excellence after returning from two weeks of COVID-19 lockdown.

Vanuatu Volleyball gets back on track after SOE break

 The beach volleyballers had taken two weeks of break after a State of Emergency was declared in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The women’s beach volleyball team is one step away from the Olympic Games after winning the Asian Continental Cup’s Oceania Qualifier last month.

Vanuatu coach Michel was thrilled with his team’s performance.

“It’s pushing us a lot and we need this push to have good attitude and to work hard back in Vanuatu at home because we will not have many tournaments in the next two months because of the coronavirus.

Vanuatu beach volleyballers into Continental Cup final

Pacific Games gold medallists Miller Pata and Sherysyn Toko defeated Rose Gwali and Hannah U'Una 21-4 21-8 in the opening match yesterday before Linline Matauatu and Loti Joe prevailed 21-6 21-5 against Glency Eddie and Anisha Fulairara to seal their spot in today's decider.

Pata and Toko will face New Zealand's top pairing Francesca Kirwan and Olivia MacDonald later this morning while Matauatu and Joe will get another shot at Julia Tilley and Shaunna Polley, who beat them in the New Zealand Beach Tour finals on Sunday.

Vanuatu 2nd in NZ Beach Volleyball Tour Finals

Loti Joe and Linline Matauatu had advanced to the semi finals without dropping a set, where they defeated a Canadian pairing of Amanda Harnett and Marie-Christine Lapointe in three sets.

The Melanesian duo, who won gold together at the 2017 Pacific Mini Games in Port Vila, pushed hard in the final against New Zealand's number one pairing of Julia Tilley and Shaunna Polley, before eventually going down 21-18 21-18 in a tough battle.