Aloe Up Ambassador Sam O’Dea Helps Win New Zealand’s First Beach Volleyball World Tour Gold Medal.
Well what a way to start a new decade! The NZ team made up of Aloe up Ambassador Sam O’Dea and Griffin Muller won New Zealand’s first gold at an FIVB one star event in the Cook Islands over the weekend. With his fellow Beach Bro Ben O’Dea still recovering from injury, Sam called up his mate Griffin at the last minute, and the rest is history. The duo join an rather exclusive club as they become only the 12th men’s team to win one of 465 wold tour events hosted by FIVB in their first start together.
After two pool play wins on day one, the boys made it through the first elimination round on day two and toppled American teams in both the semi’s and the grand final. The final lasted 52 minutes against ninth-seeded American team of Earl Schultz and Christopher Austin, with the Kiwi’s winning 21-14, 20-22, 15-7. The win netted the boys a nice little bit of pocket money for their efforts, taking US $1000 along with the title and world tour points.
This confidence boosting win comes at the perfect time with Ben O’Dea coming back from injury too, as the O’Dea Beach Bro’s work towards their goal of qualifying for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics! Good luck guys!
Want to learn more about our Aloe up Ambassadors the O’Dea Beach Bro’s? Check out their Ambassadors Profile HERE or give them a Like/Follow on Facebook HERE.