First Tuks's honour and then Namibia's is the challenge that awaits the Von Ludwiger brothers Andriko and Danillo from next week on the beach volleyball courts.
They will be playing the USSA Tournament in Durban from next Thursday. If they are at their best things could get hectic as they might have to fly out moments after contesting the final to be in Zambia where they will start their quest to try and represent Namibia at the Tokyo Olympic Games.
Andriko von Ludwiger is not complaining. The brothers are passionate about beach volleyball. The challenge to outwit their opponents by diving, blocking and setting is what gets their adrenaline pumping.
They already had some decent results this season. In Namibia, they reached a final while in South Africa they had a third-place finish.
Von Ludwiger and his Tuks partner finished fifth during last year's USSA Tournament. He is, however, of the opinion that they were their own worst enemies during their quarter-final encounter.
According to the Tuks player he and his brother, Danillo, are improving all the time. It is the first time they will play as a team at USSA's.
"Our biggest asset is that we complement each other on the court. We are both tall. All though Danillo is a better blocker of the ball and I might be more efficient of defence we can swap around all the time during games and still be competitive with every point we play. Good communication is of cardinal importance."
According to Von Ludwiger things can get quite heated during a game. It is not always to do with the sun.
"There are moments during a match that we might resort to using harsh words to vent our frustrations. The advantage we have is that no one takes it personally. As brothers, we are used to having a difference of opinion. We have learned from early on how to deal with it."
Von Ludwiger tips the University of KwaZulu Natal as the teams to beat. Last year they dominated USSA's getting both their men's teams to contest the final.
Justin Pyle and Erwin Güther are Tuks's other men's team at USSA's.
For Pyle beach volleyball and fitness go hand in hand.
"You got to have good 'sand legs' to be able to efficiently move and jump around. Each movement on the sand tends to sap your energy. That is why, to me, it is crucial to be efficient in your action. Keep your attack approach short and sweet—a two-step approach will do fine for most plays."
The Tuks women's teams that will be competing at USSA's are Khutso Letsoalo and Christine Boswell; Ashley Gandy and Thandeka Mtshali; Louise Stride and Hannah Schulz.
Earlier this year Letsoalo and TUT's Sam Sibiya finished second during the National Beach Volleyball Tournament. She was also part of the Tuks team that won the Varsity Beach Volleyball Tournament in 2017.
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