Alexander's Team, Marienlyst defeat AIS 3:0 in Denmark

Best Player - Adam White

Australian Institute of Sport v Marienlyst Denmark

Denmark Tour - Match 10 - 17-1-07

AIS lost to Marienlyst 0:3 22-25, 21-25, 18-25 

AIS Starting Line-up (and points scored): Goldsbrough-Reardon (2), White (9), Marsh (2), Thorpe (4), Dekker© (5), Zingel (8), Hughes (libero)

Substitutes: Sukochev (0), Thwaite (1), Edgar (5), Passier (3), Bell (DNP)

The Australian Institute of Sport Men’s Volleyball Team continued their 2007 European Tour when they played Marienlyst (2^nd placed team in the Danish 1^st Division), who’s roster includes young Australian Team setter Shane Alexander, in their third match for the Denmark section of the tour. As with the other matches in Denmark, the standard was high, with the young AIS players providing just 12 errors over three sets in the “opposition error” category. This demonstrated their competitiveness, when Marienlyst contributed twenty-two, in return.

The match was close in the early stages of the first set, with Marienlyst scoring the only non-sideout points (two service aces.) They led 8-6 at the first technical timeout and then extended the lead with another ace to 16-13. Despite having a few opportunities to create extra points, both teams sided-out to maintain the local team’s lead to three-points. They closed out the set 25-22.

In the second set the AIS made a good start with a White service ace, an Edgar transition kill and then an Edgar stuff block, to lead 8-4. As with previous matches against the senior professional teams, it was their powerful serving which assisted them to fight back. Marienlyst created two aces and an overpass to take a 16-14 lead at the second technical timeout. They continued to serve with good power and scored another ace and then a stuff block on the outside. The AIS could not create extra points and the locals took the set.

In the third set the AIS made a good start with a transition play terminated in strong fashion by White. Marienlyst responded with their own transition play and then reeled off four stuff blocks before the first technical timeout to lead 8-5. Some strong serving created two more aces and then two stuff blocks gave them a 16-8 lead. They increased the lead to seven points with another ace. This gap in score was maintained to the end of the set.

The AIS will play their fourth match against the Denmark 1^st Division teams, when they take on Middlefart (3^rd placed team in the Danish 1^st Division) on 18^th January. The Middelfart roster includes young Australian Team passer hitter Jarryd Christensen.

Statistics

Attack – Team 42% kill 18% error (24%ke) Zingel 57% kill (7) 14% error, White 42% (19) 11% error

Block – Team 6 kill 1 control Zingel and Goldsbrough-Reardon 2 kills each

Passing – Team 1.69 29% perfect 18% error Hughes 2.00 (20) 55% perfect 20% error

Serving – Team 1.65 3 aces 4 errors Sukochev 1.86 and Edgar 3.00; Zingel, Edgar and White 1 ace each

Best players – Zingel and White