VOLLERYBALL: After two days of staggering through ill health and injury, the Australian women’s volleyball team celebrated the return of several of their best players with a four-set win over Hong Kong at the Asian Championships in China.
The win keeps Australia in the running to finish ninth, equal to their performance of two years ago, but this time with a much younger and more inexperienced squad.
Following Saturday’s five-set win over Sri Lanka, the Volleyroos were down to just six fit players, with the rest of the team confined to bed through illness.
But the return of experienced pair Lauren Bertolacci and Bec Walter, and young gun Phoebe Bell, gave the team enough fresh legs to see off Hong Kong 25-17, 27-25, 15-25, 25-17.
Coach Mark Barnard says he’s been impressed with the fight his team has shown all week.
“We were a pretty inexperienced team, without the fact the players are sick as well,” he said.
“It’s been great that everyone has got to play a lot of volleyball, but to get any team cohesion, which we really hoped we’d get in Asians, that’s been difficult because we’ve just never had the same team.”
At 4-13 down in the opening set it looked like Hong Kong was going to make light work of the battle-weary Volleyroos.
But an incredible run of serving by Queensland’s Rhiannon Tooker, taking the score to 16-13 in Australia’s favour, gave the Volleyroos the lift they needed.
They next play Mongolia on Tuesday, with ninth place the best Australia can hope for.
Barnard believes that would be a good result.
“I think realistically, eighth to 10th is probably a fair reflection of where the team is at,” he said.
“It would have been great to get top eight, but if we had we probably would have finished eighth.
“Two years ago they finished ninth with a much more experienced team, so that’s probably a positive.
“There are some good young players. I’m impressed with some of the players I only met at camps this year. They have great potential.”
Barnard will give his players the day off on Monday. He probably didn’t have much choice, given most of them are still not 100 per cent, and the ones that are have been carrying the team all week.
“It couldn’t have come at a better time to have the rest day,” Barnard said.
“We’ve still got a couple of players who couldn’t get out of bed today, so we need a day to rest up and regroup.”
OTHER RESULTS:
Australia lose to Kazhakstan - 25-17, 25-14, 25-17
Australia win against Sri Lanka - 25-22, 25-19, 19-25, 16-25, 22-20
