SA serves up world-class beach volleyball this weekend
Global beach volleyball superstars, local talent, and a summer festival atmosphere are landing at Adelaide’s makeshift sand courts for one of the sports highest-profile events on the global calendar on Friday. See the pictures of our Aussie superstars.
Adelaide is primed to play host to one of the biggest events on the volleyball calendar when the 2025 FIVB Beach Volleyball World Championships would transform The Drive and Pinky Flat Tarntanya Wama into a sand-filled spectacle on Friday.
For South Australian athletes like Tara Phillips, it would be an opportunity to showcase their talents to a home crowd.
“This is my hometown, which makes it just incredibly special,” 24-year-old Tara Phillips said.
“We are so grateful for this opportunity and ready to take it on with two hands.”
Phillips and her teammate Kayla Mears earned a wild card entry after a strong international season, joining a record nine Australian teams. In total, five South Australians would compete in front of home crowds.
“It felt pretty unreal,” Kayla Mears said.
“It was kind of a little bit of a shock. We are just so excited for the opportunity. We are bringing world-standard beach volleyball right into your backyard, so come down and watch.”
For seasoned competitors like Paul Burnett and Tom Hodges, the excitement was both professional and personal.
You might like
“We have travelled all year with these teams,” Paul Burnett said.
“It is kind of exciting to see everyone here in Adelaide. It is making it feel more real. You get to play in front of family, friends, and fans. That is the dream.”
“We are just getting better every week,” Tom Hodges said.
“The more training and competitions we play together, the more it comes together just in time for the World Championships. We are excited to get out there and show what we can do.”
Younger pairings like Oliver Merritt and Ben Hood said they were soaking up the atmosphere of Adelaide’s transformed city precinct.
“The setup looks amazing,” Oliver Merritt said.
“This is our first time seeing Centre Court, and the organisers have done such a great job. Training here will be really valuable for us.”
“We started as a new pairing this year, and it has been exciting to get used to each other’s play,” Ben Hood said.
“We feel very comfortable on the court now, and to do it here in Adelaide in front of family is incredible.”
Stay informed, daily
Jasmine Fleming and Stefie Fejes highlighted the spectator experience.
“It is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to get all the beach volleyball community in Australia to finally come and watch such a high-level competition,” Jasmine Fleming said.
“We want everyone to experience the sport and the energy, even if they have never watched volleyball before. The music, the pace, and the festival atmosphere make it really fun for everyone.”
Event organisers designed the Championships to be more than just a sports showcase. Fans could expect a festival-style atmosphere at the Central Beach District in Pinky Flat, with live acts taking centre stage.
Performances from Baker Boy, Keli Holiday, and Mitch Tambo were poised to bring music, storytelling, and Indigenous culture to the stage. These performances would be complemented by a feast of South Australian flavours, local art, family activities, and interactive experiences for all ages.
“The buildup has been long, but now we are down here in Adelaide finishing our last week of training. Everyone should come down. It is going to be amazing,” Tara Phillips said.
Australian player Elizabeth Alchin echoed the excitement of competing locally.
“Even if you do not know anything about volleyball, it is really fun to watch,” Alchin said.
“There is music, excitement every single point, and it is a great way to spend your weekend.”
The competition opens with a ‘Green and Gold Super Session’ on 14 November, where spectators can see three Aussie teams in action, including Commonwealth Games silver-medallist Taliqua Clancy.
More than 96 teams from 40 nations will fight for the chance to represent their country in the final on Sunday, November 23. About 4000 tonnes of locally quarried sand had been delivered to the courts at The Drive and on Pinky Flat for the “biggest-ever sporting event for South Australia”.
But a cloud of controversy almost overshadowed the tournament, as Dutch beach volleyball player Steven van de Velde was banned from entering Australia following a South Australian government campaign urging the federal government to reject his visa application.
The sportsman was convicted of child rape in 2016, having raped a 12-year-old British girl when he was 19 in 2014. He served 13 months of a four-year sentence in the Netherlands after being extradited home from the United Kingdom.
Local event organiser and Beach Volleyball World Championships Adelaide 2025 CEO Jenny Mann told InDaily: “our sport and community have got through this bit of a hurdle, so now’s a chance for everyone to come and purchase tickets and back in our event.”
