DISAPPOINTMENT DRIVES BEACH VOLLEYBALL PAIR TO GOLD

March 14: The bitter memories of a disappointing fifth in 2009 drove Australia's latest Olympic beach volleyball hopefuls Sam Boehm and Chris McHugh to victory in today's Lifestyle Asset Management Australian Championships in Brisbane.

The AIS-based Adelaide pair had to fight for every point against the determined new Queensland combination, AIS team mates, triple Olympian Josh Slack and excitement machine Isaac Kapa.

The accurate serving of 20-year-olds Boehm and McHugh gave them the opening set 21-18 before Slack and Kapa fought their way back into the match to win the second set 21-15.

The see-sawing third set came down to McHugh's final serve and the 198cm blocker from Grange blasted his serve to take the match 15-13 after Slack and Kapa had saved one match point.

"It was a sweet victory after the disappointment of last year, to finish fifth and get beaten by Isaac was pretty demoralising but to turn it all around is awesome," said Boehm, who had a double incentive to win.

"Josh Slack is actually my flat mate back in Adelaide - he's been living with me ever since he moved back into the AIS three weeks ago.

"I'm three up on him now - we beat Josh and Isaac in Perth last week and twice this weekend."

McHugh admitted both he and Boehm were stronger and fitter than last year and were better prepared to tackle the World Tour, which starts in Brazil next month.

"We work out four times a week in the gym as SASSI and it has made a huge difference to our game, particularly when we embark on the World Tour," said McHugh.

Both AIS pairs have a pact to make it to the Olympics in London in 2012 and know all their performances over the next 12 months will count.

It was a big day for the South Australians with AIS women's pairing, 19-year-old Becharra Palmer and her partner of nine months, 28-year-old Sydney Indoor Volleyball Olympian Louise Bawden defeating Dutch pairing Merel Mooren and Margo Wiltens.

Palmer and Bawden won the final in straight sets, 21-15 and 21-15 in a comprehensive all round performance by the top seeds, who were surprisingly beaten by Queensland's Mowen sisters Jordan and Justine in Saturday's final round match.

"It's probably the kick in the backside we needed, actually," said Bawden.

"We put ourselves out there and that's the way we want it but sometimes you tend to get complacent. Having the advantage of being the top seeds with the easier draw can also have its disadvantages."

Bawden and Palmer will now also embark on the 2010 World Tour in a month, with the London Olympics very much on their minds.

"We are so focused on having a good year in 2010 to set ourselves up for 2011 and a shot at the Olympics in 2012," said Palmer.

"It's our dream and we are doing everything we can to ensure we have the best opportunity - just talking about the Olympics gives me a shiver up my spine - we want it pretty badly."

Meanwhile the women's bronze medal match saw comeback mum, dual Olympian Tamsin Barnett combine with the season's leading player, Manly's Alice Rohkamper to beat Queensland's sister combination Jordan and Justine Mowen from the QAS.

Barnett and Rohkamper had to work hard for every point against some dogged defence from the Mowen girls to win 21-18 and 21-7.

It capped a remarkable comeback to centre court for Barnett, who combined with Rohkamper for the first time, just six months after giving birth to son Arley last September.

Rohkamper, an exciting star of the future who will now prepare for the upcoming FIVB World Tour, was rewarded for her consistency through the season and the tournament when she received the Most Valuable Player Award from four-time Olympian Natalie Cook, while Josh Slack received the men's MVP.

Barnett too will continue to mount her campaign for London, with Beijing partner, Cook, with qualification allowing two teams from Australia in both men and women.

"It has been difficult at times juggling everything but to come back and play with Alice has been awesome and it is good to be back in the swing of things," said Barnett, who was fifth in Beijing with Cook.

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2010 Lifestyle Asset Management Australian Beach Volleyball Championships

Brisbane

Men: Sam Boehm (SA) Chris McHugh (SA) def Isaac Kapa (QLD) Josh Slack (QLD) 2-1 (21-18, 15-21, 15-13) Bo Soderberg (SA) Anders Hoyer (SA) def Sean Thomas (QLD) Justin Feuerriegel (QLD) 2-0 (21-12, 21-16)

Women: Becchara Palmer (SA) Louise Bawden (VIC) def Merel Mooren (NED) Margo Wiltens (NED) 2-0 (21-15, 21-15) Alice Rohkamper (NSW) Tamsin Barnett (VIC) def Justine Mowen (QLD) Jordan Mowen (QLD) 2-0 (21-18, 21-17)