Australia Volleyball team finish with a win to Myanmar

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Australia Volleyball team played their final match of the 2012 AVC Cup against the National Senior Team of Myanmar today, to determine 7th and 8th positions for this event.

There were many lead changes in the first set of this match, but Australia proved to be the better side after 20 points.

Australia started proceedings with a block to Guymer, before transitioning through Walker to take an early 4-2 lead. A series of three attack errors by Australia turned the game in Myanmar’s favour at 7-5. Australia sided out and Myanmar errored to level at 7-all. Australia transitioned through Smith, after the break, to take the lead back at 9-8, but Myanmar transitioned at 10-all to re capture the lead 11-10.

A Myanmar block caused an Australian ball handling error, but Myanmar errored on attack bringing the score back to level at 15-all. After the second technical timeout Myanmar blocked Australia’s quick attack to lead 18-16.

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After a long rally Australia transitioned through Smith to level at 18-all. Myanmar made another attack error to give Australia the lead at 19-18 and Australia did not look back. An ace by Guymer, followed by a Myanmar ball handling error, caused by a block from Sam Walker, put Australia in a position where they only needed to side out to win the set. They did that on their second attempt and took the set 25-22.

Australia developed a very good lead in the second set, but allowed Myanmar to get within two points before finally winning the set 25-21. Myanmar errored on attack early in the set, giving Australia a 3-1 lead. Australia transitioned through Walker to lead 4-1 and then Myanmar was called for four hits, giving Australia a 5-1 break.

Australia blocked again through Leathart to lead 7-2. After a period of siding out by both teams Myanmar was called for four hits again and trailed 4-10. Millers blocked the next point to make it 11-4 to Australia. At this point Australia lost a little focus and errored on attack, but Myanmar did the same and the score reached 13-6.

Myanmar transitioned to bring the scores a little closer at 9-14. A very good float serve Ace from Guymer took Australia to 17-10. Millers blocked again and the set looked over at 19-11. Myanmar sided out and then transitioned to be 13-19. Then Myanmar blocked twice in succession and Australia made an attack error – suddenly it was 16-19.

A communication error in the back court for Australia saw a free ball fall to the ground uncontested and the score became 17-19. Australia picked up the pace and sided out and then scored another Millers’ block to reach 21-17. Myanmar won a joust to get within two points again, at 20-22. A Sukochev ace brought up set point for Australia and a block in “side out transition” finished the set, giving Australia a 2-nil lead.

Australia dominated the third set in block and transition. Australia started with a transition point through Smith and if not for three service errors in a row, probably would have been further ahead at the first technical timeout, since Myanmar were making multiple errors on side out attack.

Australia still led 8-5 at this point. Successive blocks to Staples, Smith and Walker took Australia to 13-7. Myanmar had a brief respite with a transition kill at 8-13, but Australia blocked twice through Millers to lead 17-10.

This time the young Australian Team kept going. Myanmar errored trying to avoid the block and Australia transitioned and blocked (both through Smith) to lead 22-12. Myanmar transitioned once more and then Australia made a technical error to bring the score to 17-24. Australia sided out to win the set 25-17.

Australia won the match and finishes in 7th place overall.

Australia’s senior Team players now go to their professional teams, while the junior and youth players in the group prepare for Asian Championships in both age groups to be held in Iran in September and October.

Source: Australian Olympic Team

Australia Volleyball