VOLLEYBALL: The Australian women's volleyball team has made a winning start to the Asian Championships in China, beating the Philippines 3-1 in their opening match.
It was a strong performance from the Australians, who are without top point scorer Rachel Rourke and several other players from last year's Grand Prix campaign.
But with the experience of Swiss-based Lauren Bertolacci and Victorian libero, Rebecca Walters, the Australians took control from the start in Tianjin.
Queensland’s Rhiannon Tooker was one of several players making their senior debut for the Volleyroos.
“The Philippines played a different style of game to us, which in itself can be quite challenging, but we managed it really well,” Tooker said.
“I was definitely nervous, but I was mostly really excited. To have played for Australia in youth and junior teams, and then to play for the senior team was a great opportunity.
“It was really nice to be playing again after all that training.”
The Australians took the first two sets 25-18, 25-18, but then found themselves down 11-16 in the third before staging a remarkable comeback to take the lead at 19-18.
The Philippines held on to take the third set 26-24, but were no match for a rampant Australia in the fourth, the Volleyroos taking the set 25-15 and the match 3-1.
Bertolacci said she could sense in the lead-up to the tournament a different feel about the team.
“Since we’ve come together in the past three days we’ve really come together quickly in terms of development of cohesion,” she said.
“It felt a lot easier than in previous years. It feels like this might be a better fit and a way that we could start a new program.
“There were a lot of nerves tonight. This is such a great group of girls, they are so easy to work with. It’s been a lot of fun so far.”
Australia goes into the championships ranked ninth in Asia, and next take on number three ranked South Korea, before rounding out their group against the fifth ranked Kazakhstan.
And while having a great tournament and getting great results for Australia is the main focus in Tianjin, for players like Rhiannon Tooker there’s also an opportunity to attract the attention of professional overseas clubs.
“It’s something that I’d imagine quite a few players would be thinking about,” Tooker said.
“For me personally, after college I took a bit of time off, and with absolutely no intentions to do so, three years later here I am.
“So definitely that’s a thought that’s in there.”
Australia takes on South Korea at 4pm, local time, Thursday.
ROSS SOLLY FOR VOLLEYBALL AUSTRALIA
