AUSTRALIA DEFEAT QATAR IN STRAIGHT SETS IN ASIAN VOLLEYBALL
Volleyball, September 23: Volleyball Team Australia has kept its unbeaten record in tact, recording its second preliminary round win overnight in the 16th Asian Men’s Volleyball Championships in Tehran, Iran.
The Australians scored an impressive three sets to love win (25-20, 25-18, 25-21) over unseeded Qatar, following its opening 3-2 win over fourth seeded Korea on day one.
The fifth seeded Australia were impressive against Korea, setting the stage for the tournament winning in an exciting fifth set decider, 25-20, 29-31, 25-20, 25-27,15-7 and continued with their consistency against Qatar.
This year’s Asian Championships features 16 teams who will all by vying for the title, as well as a ticket to the FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Cup 2011 in Japan (November 20 to December 4) with the top three teams from that tournament earning a berth the London 2012 Olympic Games.
Australia’s Assistant Coach Dan Ilott said: “The keys for today’s match against Qatar were consistency in service reception and a good level in reception attack despite not being at the team’s best.
“Australia applied consistent pressure with service and block, recording nine stuff blocks for the match and creating 25 transition-for-point opportunities.
“We are still focused on improving our level of play and consistency with every match opportunity here in Tehran as we progress deeper into the tournament and will look to do so in our third match with Turkmenistan.”
The Australians meet Turkmenistan tonight, with tomorrow a rest day, before the all-important round-robin games start up on Sunday.
The tournament will continue through next week, with the finals scheduled for next Thursday, September 29.
RESULT: 3 : 0 (25-20, 25-18, 25-21)
TEAM STATISTICS
SERVE 7 Aces, 14 Errors, Proficiency 1.48
ATTACK 49% Kill, 13% Error, 36% Kill Efficiency
BLOCK 9 Stuff Blocks, 14 Control Blocks.
DEFENCE 28 Controlled Digs.
The Australians scored an impressive three sets to love win (25-20, 25-18, 25-21) over unseeded Qatar, following its opening 3-2 win over fourth seeded Korea on day one.
The fifth seeded Australia were impressive against Korea, setting the stage for the tournament winning in an exciting fifth set decider, 25-20, 29-31, 25-20, 25-27,15-7 and continued with their consistency against Qatar.
This year’s Asian Championships features 16 teams who will all by vying for the title, as well as a ticket to the FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Cup 2011 in Japan (November 20 to December 4) with the top three teams from that tournament earning a berth the London 2012 Olympic Games.
Australia’s Assistant Coach Dan Ilott said: “The keys for today’s match against Qatar were consistency in service reception and a good level in reception attack despite not being at the team’s best.
“Australia applied consistent pressure with service and block, recording nine stuff blocks for the match and creating 25 transition-for-point opportunities.
“We are still focused on improving our level of play and consistency with every match opportunity here in Tehran as we progress deeper into the tournament and will look to do so in our third match with Turkmenistan.”
The Australians meet Turkmenistan tonight, with tomorrow a rest day, before the all-important round-robin games start up on Sunday.
The tournament will continue through next week, with the finals scheduled for next Thursday, September 29.
RESULT: 3 : 0 (25-20, 25-18, 25-21)
TEAM STATISTICS
SERVE 7 Aces, 14 Errors, Proficiency 1.48
ATTACK 49% Kill, 13% Error, 36% Kill Efficiency
BLOCK 9 Stuff Blocks, 14 Control Blocks.
DEFENCE 28 Controlled Digs.