San Diego (special) -- Take it from Harvey Neiman, who is and better be an expert on such matters: the sand at South Mission Beach is softer than that on the beach in Netanya, Israel. And there is definitely more wind.

Neiman was the coach of the American beach volleyball team which competed in the just concluded 15th Maccabiah Games in Israel. Both the men's squad and the women's squad came home with gold medals. 

In recognition of his coaching, Neiman has a matched pair of first-place trophies, though he says he will give the women's coaching trophy to Greg Glassman, his fellow San Diegan and assistant coach who spent most of his time with the women's team.

What difference does the softness of Mission Beach's sand make? Hard packed sand, like that at Netanya, is better to jump on, making spiking the ball all that much easier.

And the wind is also important, especially at the Maccabiah where a lighter ball is utilized than the one used in American competitions. The combination of high winds and light balls can bedevil unwary volleyball teams.

Neiman said the American squad practiced for several days prior to the games in order to get used to the hard sand, high winds and an international rule which permits defenders to "spin" the ball -- slapping it twice -- on the set up shot.

The four members of the Men's Beach Volleyball team all hailed from San Diego. The first team players were Ken Lentin and Dis Abelman. The reserve team were Neiman's son, Dan, and Abelman's brother, Marc.

There were three members of the Women's Beach Volleyball Team: Shaney Fink of Santa Monica; Barbara Bierman of Fort Lauderdale, Fla.; and Bonnie Levin of El Segundo.

Six nations fielded teams in beach volleyball which was added to this year's Maccabiah after it proved to be so popular in the most recent Olympics. Besides the United States, these were Australia, Brazil, Canada, Israel and Venezuela. 

In both the men's and women's finals, the United States played Israel for the gold medal with the outcome never really in doubt.

Neiman, who modestly describes his coaching as more "organizing" than giving pointers to the American players, said that Ken Lentin and Dis Abelman were particularly effective as teammates because they had complementary skills. 

"Ken is the taller of the two--6'4--and he has a sharp spike game; he hits the ball down and hard," said Neiman of the 34-year-old mortgage broker. "He is also a great blocker."

"Dis is average height--about 5'11--and has more of a shot making game," the coach said. "He is very fast. His specialty is defense. He is a great retriever." Abelman is a fireman for the City of Coronado.

As for the reserve squad, Neiman said his son, Dan's style is very similar to Abelman's. "He runs the ball down, and makes a lot of shots," Neiman said. "He is an excellent setter." The younger Neiman is a senior at Humboldt State University.

The younger Abelman, who works as a waiter at Pacifica Grill, while working for a degree at San Diego State, has a "blocking style of play and is a good spiker," Neiman said approvingly.

As for the women, they all distinguished themselves as athletes, Neiman said. Fink not only won a gold in beach volleyball, she also was a member of the gold medalist women's indoor volleyball team. 

Bierman meanwhile took a bronze medal in women's discus throwing, while Levin placed fourth--just shy of the medals-- in the women's triathalon event.