Vanuatu has reclaimed top spot at the Oceania Beach Volleyball Championships in the Cook Islands.
Miller Pata and Linline Matauatu beat Australia's Mariafe Artacho Del Solar and Nicki Laird in the women's gold medal match, 21-13 21-15.
The Melanesian duo finished runners up at last year's event and got one back on their Australian rivals, who beat them in the Continental Cup earlier in the week.
Miller Pata, who was named tournament MVP, says it's good to be back on top.
"We come up with a strong [desire] to win [against] Australia because we lost against them in second place in the Continental Cup final then we come up to beat them in the Oceanias. It's a good comeback and a strong win to win against Aussie team".
It was also a good day for Vanuatu coach Jason Lochhead, who combined with fellow New Zealander Ben O'Dea to win the men's title.
Meanwhile American Samoa's Sam Luaiva and Sigalu Aitui ended a successful week in fourth place.
![Vanuatu Volleyball Linline Matauatu and Miller Pata celebrate winning gold at the Oceania Beach Volleyball Championship, with coach and men's gold medalist Jason Lochhead [L]](https://media.rnztools.nz/rnz/image/upload/s--2hsj_TeQ--/c_scale,f_auto,q_auto,w_1050/v1643421888/4P64ITE_copyright_image_52583)
Vanuatu's Linline Matauatu and Miller Pata celebrate winning gold at the Oceania Beach Volleyball Championship, with coach and men's gold medalist Jason Lochhead [L] Photo: Vanuatu Volleyball
