VOLLEYBALL: Australian volleyball captain Tom Edgar called for his team to be more critical of its performances after it lost 3-1 to Serbia in their World League match in Melbourne.

Australia needed a win against the world number eight team to guarantee it stays in group one of World League next year, but could not overcome a determined but inexperienced Serbia.

The Volleyroos were at their best in a gripping third set, but having worked hard to get back into the match gave up the fourth set and the match with a string of unforced errors, 22-25, 21-25, 31-29, 18-25.

“I’m disappointed,” Edgar said.

“To be honest I’m a little bit lost for words. We have to find something more within ourselves, it’s not about what opponent we’re playing.

“Serbia did play well in patches, but we just got in a rut where we were dropping points and then dropping more points and then letting them have a run.”

Australia now has to hope Iran beats Russia on Sunday morning to guarantee the Volleyroos will stay in Group One next year.

If Russia is able to win it’s first match of this year it could mean Australia has to beat Serbia on Sunday to prevent being relegated.

Edgar says his team needs to be start playing better.

“We really have to learn quickly how to kill a team. I thought we had a lot of opportunities in this game,” he said.

“It’s getting to the stage where we need to be a little bit more critical of ourselves and of each other, and make sure we’re still pushing.

“Not in a negative way, but make sure we’re building and there’s some constructive criticism going on because we need to make the next step, not hover between two levels.”

Coach Roberto Santilli was frustrated Serbia was able to win several points from a move his team had practiced for.

“We were prepared for the tip, but sometimes we tried to do something which we are not able to do,” he said.

“We prepared everything, but we didn’t do well enough. That is why I’m disappointed because we can lose against a team like this, but you should not lose when you are prepared for something.”

Edgar finished the leading point scorer for Australia with 28 points, including a dominant third set where he almost single-handedly dragged his team back into the match.

Australia takes on Serbia again in its final match of the 2015 World League in Melbourne on Sunday afternoon.

Volleyball Australia