VOLLEYROOS COACH LOSES TO SON'S TEAM

By Angela Habashy 

LONDON, July 29 AAP: It must have been awkward for Australian men's volleyball coach Jon Uriarte to watch his team lose to his son's side, but he says the experience was "a gift".

The 22-ranked Australians - an entire team of Olympic debutants - opened their Games campaign with a 25-21 25-22 25-20 loss to Uriarte's native Argentina - a team in which his son Nicolas plays.

But Uriarte put his coaching duties above his patriarchal ones, waiting until after the match to embrace his son.

"We were focused on our own jobs. We left everything else aside during the match," said Uriarte, who won bronze with Argentina at the 1988 Seoul Games.

"We are just both so grateful that we have a life where we can both be involved in the sport that we love.

"There's nothing more important in life for a father than seeing your children be happy.

"Being here in the main sporting stage and enjoying it together is an amazing gift."

With Uriarte's intimate knowledge of their opponents, having coached several members in his time as Argentina's mentor and knowing many of them since they were babies, the Australians tested the world No.8 South Americans.

They showed flashes of promise but were eventually outplayed by the South Americans who dominated with superior serving and powerful attacking.

Towering Australian Thomas Edgar - standing 212cm tall - registered 16 points in the match and was the Volleyroos key attacker at the net with 17 spikes.

He received valuable support from captain Igor Yudin who contributed 13 points.

Sebastian Sole was Argentina's highest scorer with 13.

"It is disappointing to lose this game. We knew we had to serve well today to combat Argentina's offence but our serve just wasn't good enough," Uriarte said.

"Our challenge now is to put in more energy and more determination in our next matches."

Australia meet world No.92 hosts Great Britain in their next pool C clash on Tuesday night.