VOLLEYBALL MEN BEAT HOLLAND TO LEVEL SERIES 1-1

VOLLEYBALL, May 17 2012: Volleyball Team Australia Men have come from one set down to beat the Netherlands 3-1 and level their four match series at 1-1 in Rotterdam overnight.

The Australians lost the first set 22-25 but bounced back to level, winning the second set 25-22 before closing down the match 25-17 and 25-18 with great attack and excellent team defence.
 
But the Australians, who play off for an Olympic berth in Tokyo next month, are not getting carried away and know they have a lot of work to do in their next two matches.
 
“It was certainly great to break through for a win but we still have areas to improve on, especially our reception,” said assistant coach Dan Ilott.
 
“Coming into the final set coach Jon Uriarte urged our young charges to maintain their focus in attack and they did, Australia winning the set 25-18 and the match 3-1.
 
“The team was in high spirits in the change room after the match and we are now looking forward to tomorrow night’s clash with the Netherlands in the city of Tilburg.”
 
But the coaching staff will be looking for a better start tomorrow night after the Australians poor opening stanza which saw a series of errors in side out attack give the Netherlands an 8-4 lead. After the timeout the Netherlands scored two blocks against the Australian attack to take a commanding lead at 11-5.
 
Australia created points of their own through block and transition attack but again made errors to see the Netherlands leading 9-16.
 
From this point Australia started to find their rhythm in attack, with 2.12m tall Queensland opposite Thomas Edgar converting two transition-for-point opportunities and Travis Passier and Igor Yudin contributed service aces to see Australia level the scores at 18-18.
 
The Netherlands sided out and created two break points of their own on serve and this break proved decisive, the set going to the Netherlands 22-25.
 
Australia started the second set with an ace to Edgar, a stuff block to Passier and some strong team play in defence to lead 8-4 at the first technical time out.
 
The Australians continued its good play through the middle of the set, applying good pressure in service and converting transition attack opportunities to lead 16-9 at the second technical.
 
The Netherlands rebounded strongly, creating a number of transition-for-point attack opportunities and a stuff block to reduce the Aussie lead to within one point at 19-18.
 
The set was well and truly in the balance with both teams siding out strongly until a stuff block from the Netherlands saw them level the scores at 22 all.
 
Australia showed strong resolve to side out and then create a set point opportunity through a great stuff block to Passier. The set finished with a crowd pleasing service ace to Aidan Zingel that clipped the net cord and dropped straight to the floor, Australia winning the set 25-22.  
 
Australia continued its strong momentum into the third set, going from strength to strength as they began to dominate the Netherlands in attack and block, recording six stuff blocks for the set and converting a number of transition for point attacks.
 
The Netherlands had no answer to the Aussie onslaught as Australia ran away with the set, 25-17.
 
The fourth set saw Australia continue its strong play, again dominating at the net with seven stuff blocks as the Netherlands tried a number of positional changes to find a solution, but it was to no avail as Australia repeatedly scored points in attack and played some excellent team defence, winning 25-18.
 
 
TEAM STATISTICS
 
SERVE             6 Aces, 14 Errors, Proficiency 1.65
 
RECEPTION     33% Perfect, Proficiency 1.93
 
ATTACK           44% Kill, 18% Error, 26% Kill Efficiency
 
BLOCK             22 Stuff Blocks, 13 Control Blocks.
 
DEFENCE         26 Controlled Digs.
 
 
The Australian Squad:
 

Aidan Zingel DOB: Nov 19, 1990 Home: NSW Club: Bluvolley Verona, Italy Position: Middle Height: 207 Weight: 102   Nathan Roberts DOB: Feb 17 1986 Home: SA Club: CMC Ravenna, Italy Position: Outside Height: 199 Weight: 90   Travis Passier DOB: April 26, 1989 Home: QLD Club: M. Roma Volley, Italy Position: Middle Height: 205 Weight: 99   Igor Yudin DOB: June 17, 1987 Home: Vic Club: Yaroslavich, Russia Position: Outside Height: 199 Weight: 81   Harrison Peacock DOB: January 31, 1981 Home: SA Club: Linkoping, Volleyball Club, Sweden Position: Setter Height: 192 Weight: 90   Andrew Grant DOB: April 22, 1985 Home: QLD Club: AIS, Australia Position: Middle Height: 206 Weight: 93   Adam White DOB: November 8, 1989 Home: Qld Club: Lang Henkel Volley, Netherlands Position: Outside Height: 203 Weight: 89

Jacques Borgeaud DOB: June 19, 1991 Home: ACT Club: Regina University, Canada Position: Libero Height: 179 Weight: 78   Aiden Tutton DOB: December 6, 1984 Home: SA Club: Lang Henkel Volley, Netherlands Position: Libero Height:182 Weight: 81   Grigory Sukochev DOB: February 18, 1988 Home: SA Club: Humene, Slovakia Position: Setter Height: 196 Weight: 86   John Dekker DOB: May 9, 1988 Home: QLD Club: Humene, Slovakia Position: Outside Height: 205 Weight: 83   Luke Smith DOB: August 30, 1990 Home: WA Club: Linkoping, Volleyball Club, Sweden Position:  Outside Height: 200 Weight: 90   Lincoln Williams DOB: October 6, 1993 Home: QLD Club: AIS, Australia Position: Opposite Height: 196 Weight:   Thomas Edgar DOB: June 21, 1989 Home: QLD Club: Caffe Aiello Corigliano, Italy Position: Opposite Height: 212 Weight: 106

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