VOLLEYBALL: Australia is expecting a vastly different Italian team to take to the courts this weekend in Italy than the side that beat the Volleyroos two-nil in Adelaide a fortnight ago.

Several of Italy’s biggest stars did not make the trip to Adelaide, but returned to the team last weekend for their first home games against Serbia.

“It’s going to be a different looking Italian side this weekend, with some of their stars coming back that didn’t travel to Adelaide,” Volleyroo Paul Sanderson said.

“We’re looking forward to that. This is a learning process for us, our goal is to qualify for the Olympics.

“These games are important for us to develop as a team, especially for the young guys, but these really are a stepping stone for the Olympics.”

Australia is yet to win a game in this year’s World League, their first in Group One. They followed up a 2-nil loss to Italy in Adelaide with a 2-nil loss away to Brazil last weekend.

The Australians made the long trip from South America to Italy overnight Monday, and Sanderson said a lot of the team, nearly all who are well over 180cms tall, were feeling sore.

“It’s extremely hard for a lot of us,” he said.

“A lot of have pretty bad knees and backs, so to be hunched up in those seats makes it hard.”

Despite the current scoreline, Sanderson is confident a win is not far away, especially when the Volleyroos return to Australia to take on Brazil in Sydney and Serbia in Melbourne.

“I think we can play at this level, it’s just if we can do it for half an hour or an hour, we’ve got to put together a good game because we haven’t been able to do that yet,” Sanderson said.

“We need to come out and play good volleyball for two hours, and then we’ll have an opportunity to get a win. We’re making some improvements.”

Australia takes on Italy in Jesolo 4am Saturday, AEST, and then in Verona at 430am Monday.

The team then heads to Serbia for two games the following weekend. 

VOLLEYBALL AUSTRALIA