ROBERTS LEADS VTAM FIGHTBACK BUT DUTCH WIN FIVE SET THRILLER
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VOLLEYBALL, May 19 2012: Despite producing the best attacking statistics of its European Tour, Volleyball Team Australia Men (VTAM) have gone down fighting in a thrilling five-set encounter with Holland in Tilburg overnight.
The Australians, who are building up to the World Olympic Qualification Tournament in Tokyo next month, fought back bravely from two sets down to level at 2-2 but the Dutch claimed the fifth and deciding set and the match 15-10.
The Dutch took the opening two sets 25-20 and 25-20 before VTAM before powerful South Australian outside Nathan Roberts came off the bench to stun the home team with a commanding 25-16 third set win before the Australians leveled, winning the fourth set 25-21.
Roberts added energy and unstoppable attack during the third set, helping Australia to an 8-3 lead and they went on to record their best attack statistics as they dominated the Dutch at the net, leading 16-9 and winning the set comfortably 25-16.
The fourth set again saw Australia dominating in attack, led by Roberts who was attacking at 70 percent for the match.
Australia created pressure through accurate serving and great defensive play to create and convert a number of break point opportunities and led 8-5, 16-10 and 20-15 as they cruised to victory in the set, 25-21 with a lot of momentum and confidence.
The fifth and deciding set started well for Australia with successive attack kills to Queensland opposite Thomas Edgar and Roberts but a service error followed by two attack errors and a reception error saw the Netherlands open up a small break at 3-6 which they extended to 4-8 at the first technical time out.
This break would prove decisive in the outcome of the set as Australia fought hard to reduce the gap, but the Netherlands played its best attacking set of the match and took their chances when it counted, winning the set and wrapping up the match.
The Australians had started the game slowly but capitalised on early service errors from the Dutch, leading the opening set, 16-15 at the second technical time out.
At 17-16 a series of errors from Australia in reception and attack gave their opponents a five point run and saw Australia trailing 17-21. This run of points proved to be critical, eventually losing by five points.
The second set continued as the first had ended with Australia inconsistent in attack despite recording some very good reception statistics.
Attack errors combined with service errors saw the Netherlands controlling the set at 14-7 before a mini fight back from the Aussies through blocks to Harrison Peacock and Aiden Zingel combined with attack kills to Queensland pair Edgar and Adam White saw Australia close the gap to 13-16 at the second technical time out.
Strong attacking and defensive control by the Netherlands gave them two break points on serve and a set winning lead at 21-16 which Australia could not come back from and they Dutch won the second set 25-20.
Australia rebounded in the third and fourth sets like a new team but by the fifth set the Dutch had re-grouped and wrapped up an entertaining match.
The Netherlands lead the four match series 2-1 and the teams conclude the final match tomorrow night in Utrecht.
TEAM STATISTICS
SERVE 4 Aces, 14 Errors, Proficiency 1.77
RECEPTION 44% Perfect, Proficiency 2.05
ATTACK 45% Kill, 20% Error, 25% Kill Efficiency
BLOCK 11 Stuff Blocks, 24 Control Blocks.
DEFENCE 27 Controlled Digs.
The Australian Squad:
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Aidan Zingel
Adam White |
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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