New champions crowned at Mahindra Australian Beach Volleyball Tour

It was the first national tour gold medal for Bushby and Schumann, as individuals and as a team.

“It’s pretty massive, Solly was my enemy last time I had a chance so now that I’ve teamed up with him he’s helped me out,” Schumann said.

Playing their first summer together as a team, Bushby said they’re pleased with the progress that they’re seeing.

“We messaged at the start of the year about potentially starting a partnership, and it’s gone really, really well,” he said.

“Every event we’ve played at we’ve got a medal, so we’ll just keep it going and we’re really happy with how we’re going.”

Having made the move to Adelaide at the start of the summer, Schumann is certainly reaping the rewards.

“Being in the environment, and training with the big boys every day is just unreal,” he said.

“We’ve got the gym sorted, we’ve got the recovery, the facilities... it’s like I’m living out my dream every day.”

The win marks the end of the domestic summer for all teams, with Bushby and Schumann’s attention now turning to the international events.

“We’ll go back to Adelaide, and have a bit of a break this week,” Bushby said.

“Then we’ll be back training with the rest of the crew, preparing for some Asian Challenger events to try and take our game to the next level.

“This is a really big year for our country in terms of qualifying for LA, so there’s a lot of strategy and preparation to go for the Olympics.”

Jana Milutinovic and Kyla Sanchez won Sanchez’s first ever gold medal on the Mahindra Australian Beach Volleyball Tour in a gallant victory against Rebecca Ingram and Lucy Sauerova.

“It feels amazing, it’s our first time playing together and my first gold medal so I’m stoked,” Sanchez said.

“I just stuck to what I know, and what I can do well and hoped the result would show... and it did.”

“Games like that are exciting and I’m glad that Kyla and I kept our cool and focused on the next point and reset,” Milutinovic added.

For full results from the Mahindra Australian Beach Volleyball Tour in Cobram visit tinyurl.com/2bewdw6d