VTAM’S STIRRING STRAIGHT SETS VICTORY IN OLYMPIC QUALIFYING OPENER

VOLLEYBALL: June 1, 2012: Volleyball Team Australian Men (VTAM) has opened its FIVB Men's World Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Tokyo today with a stirring straight sets victory over Venezuela.

The Aussie young guns, led by 212cm Opposite Thomas Edgar served it up to the South Americans to win 25-14, 25-22, 25-18 at the Tokyo Metropolitan Gym.

The 22-year-old Edgar with a match-high 22 points and fellow Queenslander Adam White with 12 were the stand outs in a determined Australian victory which delighted Australia coach Jon Uriarte.

"The opening match is always tough. We have a younger team now without as many veterans as in the past and playing consistently was always going to be a challenge for us,” Uriarte said.

"We struggled to close the second set, but picked it up in the third set and restored our standards but I have to say our blocking was good."

The Aussies dominated with their power game on spikes and blocks and it was Edgar who took Australia to a 4-1 lead in the opening set to give the team a perfect start.

At one stage the Australians led 20-10 and some thumping attacking play gave the Aussies the set 25-14 with Edgar claiming 10 points.

The second set saw the teams locked together at 11-11 before a powerful blast from Edgar and a spike from Aidan Zingel sparked an Australian surge and they moved to an 18-14 lead.

A White spike took the count to 21-16 and Venezuela called a timeout before a net infraction put Australia within two points of the set at 23-17.

Another White's spike made it set point at 24-18 but Venezuela then ran off three straight points to make it 24-21 before an Australian timeout.

Australian captain Igor Yudin missed a spike making it 24-22 but Venezuela sent a serve long presenting the set to Australia 25-22.

The third set saw the Australians race to a 16-13 lead at the second time out and White's spike gave Australia a three-point lead at 19-16 forcing a Venezuelan timeout.

Edgar elevated for another spike and Australia was three points from the match at 22-17. Yudin's spike made it match point at 24-18 and Australia closed it out to win the set and wrap up the match 25-18.

Skipper Yudin admitted it was just the start the team needed, saying: "We are happy to win the first game, starting the way we wanted to - we dominated. This is a real confidence boost for our next game (against Puerto Rico) at 12 Noon (AEST) tomorrow.”

The Australians will then face Iran, Serbia, Japan, Korea and China over the round robin tournament which runs through until June 10 with the top ranked team and the best placed Asian team qualifying for the 12-team Olympic tournament. If the winner is an Asian team then the next best Asian team will also qualify.

The Australian Squad:
 

Aidan Zingel Age: 21 Home: NSW Club: Bluvolley Verona, Italy Position: Middle Height: 207 Weight: 102   Nathan Roberts Age: 26 Home: SA Club: CMC Ravenna, Italy Position: Outside Height: 199 Weight: 90   Travis Passier Age: 23 Home: QLD Club: M. Roma Volley, Italy Position: Middle Height: 205 Weight: 99   Igor Yudin Age: 24 Home: Vic Club: Yaroslavich, Russia Position: Outside Height: 199 Weight: 81   Harrison Peacock Age: 21 Home: SA Club: Linkoping, Volleyball Club, Sweden Position: Setter Height: 192 Weight: 90   Andrew Grant Age: 27 Home: QLD Club: AIS, Australia Position: Middle Height: 206 Weight: 93   Adam White Age: 22 Home: Qld Club: Lang Henkel Volley, Netherlands Position: Outside Height: 203 Weight: 89

Jacques Borgeaud Age: 20 Home: ACT Club: Regina University, Canada Position: Libero Height: 179 Weight: 78   Aden Tutton Age: 27 Home: SA Club: Lang Henkel Volley, Netherlands Position: Libero Height:182 Weight: 81   Grigory Sukochev Age: 24 Home: SA Club: Humene, Slovakia Position: Setter Height: 196 Weight: 86   John Dekker Age: 22 Home: QLD Club: Humene, Slovakia Position: Outside Height: 205 Weight: 83   Luke Smith Age: 21 Home: WA Club: Linkoping, Volleyball Club, Sweden Position:  Outside Height: 200 Weight: 90   Lincoln Williams Age: 18 Home: QLD Club: AIS, Australia Position: Opposite Height: 196 Weight:   Thomas Edgar Age: 22 Home: QLD Club: Caffe Aiello Corigliano, Italy Position: Opposite Height: 212 Weight: 106

Issued on behalf of Volleyball Australia by: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.