SERBIAS NEAR PERFECT DISPLAY IN 3-0 VICTORY OVER BRAVE AUSSIES
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VOLLEYBALL, June 6, 2012: Australia’s Men’s Volleyballers came crashing down to earth against tournament favourites Serbia, with a straight sets loss in the fourth round of the FIVB Men's World Olympic Qualifying Tournament at Tokyo Metropolitan Gym today.
The 25-18, 25-19, 25-18 victory moved the “almost perfect” Serbia to 4-0, while Australia fell to 3-1 with the loss after their earlier victories over Venezuela, Puerto Rico and Iran.
Nikola Kovacevic and Sasa Starovic were the stars for Serbia with 13 points apiece while captain Igor Yudin led Australia valiantly with 12 points in defeat.
It was a comprehensive performance by Serbia, which dominated in every facet of the game. Their attacks and blocks were particularly outstanding.
Australia had trouble dealing with the power game of the Serbs, were unable to mount a consistent attack and were guilty of several service errors.
"Today Serbia showed us a level of play where we want to be in the future. It was a good experience for us,” said Yudin
"It doesn't hurt so much to lose to the No. 5 team in the world and the difference between us and Serbia is in the technical skills and consistency of play. They do the little things well."
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It only took Serbia 21 minutes to wrap up the first set 25-18 before a service ace by Sasa Starovic gave Serbia a 5-4 lead in the second set. Kovacevic's spike made it 7-5.
Thomas Edgar sent a serve long and Serbia was in front 8-7 at the first TTO but consecutive spikes by White pulled Australia within a point at 12-11. A dink by Yudin knotted the score at 14-14 and Serbia called a timeout.
Serbia was up 16-15 at the second TTO. A return error by Australia made it 20-18 for Serbia. Yudin's spike sailed long and Serbia had set point at 24-18. Kovacevic ended 25-19 with a spike.
Serbia established a 5-3 lead in the third set. A service ace by Podrascanin made it 7-3. Nikic's spike put Serbia in front 8-4 at the first TTO. Starovic's spike made it 11-6 for Serbia as they continued their momentum from the first two sets.
Alexander Williams sailed a spike wide for Australia and Serbia opened up an eight-point margin at 16-8 at the second TTO. After Serbia went up 19-10, Australia ran off four straight points and the Serbs took a timeout.
A block by Nikic gave Serbia a 20-14 lead. Australia sent a serve long and Serbia was two points from the match at 23-18. Williams fired a spike long and Serbia had match point at 24-18. Another Williams spike went long and Serbia clinched the match 25-18.
Australia battle Japan on Thursday, while Serbia meet Puerto Rico.
Australia will battle Serbia tomorrow followed by Japan, Korea and China over the round robin tournament which runs through until Sunday, 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 |
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