'93 AJM Match Report 6 - AUS to playoff for Bronze

Thailand Tour – April, 2011
Australian National Junior Men’s Team – (’93-’94 NJM)
v.  Air Force     (Semi-Final)
in Bangkok, Thailand

Match #6 – 26th April 2011

AUS NJM defeated by Air Force 1:3 (25-12, 15-25,26-28, 18-25)

’93-’94 NJM (Points scored):
1 Gerrard Lipscombe (Libero)(VIC)
4 Corey Leathart (19)(QLD)
5 Chris Morrow (3)(NSW)
6 Brad Mason (1)(VIC)
9 Jordan Power (13)(ACT)
10 Beau Graham (4)(QLD)
14 Sam Brisbane (0)(VIC)
15 Simon Hone (1)(ACT)
16 Rory Welsh (C) (2)(SA)
17 Jake Guymer (5)(QLD)
18 Tom Menzies (0)(QLD)
19 Nic Borgeaud (5)(ACT)

Match Statistics:
Attack – Team 41% kill 23% err (18%ke)
Morrow 75% kill (4) 0% err
Graham 50% kill (6) 17% err
Leathart 44% kill (36) 28% err

Block – Team 7 kills 16 controls
Leathart 3 kills 2 controls
Guymer, Welsh, Power and Graham 1 kill each

Passing – Team 1.96 39% perfect 3 err
Lipscombe 2.24 (17) 41% perfect 0 err
Leathart 1.97 (34) 38% perfect 1 err

Serving – Team 1.65 3 ace 11 errors
Power 2.44 (16)- 3 ace 0 errs,
Welsh 1.82 (17)- 0 ace 0 err

Defence – Team 13 digs
Lipscombe – 5 digs, Power 3, Guymer 2

MATCH – REPORT
The National Junior Men’s Team (NJM) were beaten in their semi-final match today, by the reigning National Champions – Air Force.

The Australians entered the match with a good game plan, a lot of spirit and a good supportive crowd made up of the ‘95 NYM and the National Junior Women’s Teams who have arrived in Thailand for their tournament.

The team executed the game plan perfectly in the first set unsettling the Thai team as the NJM were able to put maximum pressure on their reception to remove their quick and combination play. When they had to set to the outside the Australian defence was able to control them. The team made 3 aces (all from Power) and 2 blocks for the set, while Leathart was outstanding with 8 points for the set.

The 2nd set was a close affair until 12-13, with both teams attacking well. Unfortunately, at that stage a number of passing and attack errors by the NJM allowed the Thais to create a good advantage. They went on to win the set 25-15.

The Australians worked at the start of the 3rd set, through some good defence and transition spiking, to stay level with the Air Force team.  This in turn applied more pressure to the Thai attack and they made 3 quick errors to allow the Australian team to take a 14-11 lead. The Thais fought back with a couple of Transition points of their own and from there (14-14) it was point for point. At 21-20 Hone entered the match as a blocking sub and won two points with a block and an attack for a 23-21 lead. Unfortunately, a Thai side-out, an Australian attack error and a transition point gave the Thais set point. Australia saved three set points before an attack error handed the Air Force the set 28-26.

The Australian attack was struggled to kill the ball against a well organised Thai defence in the 4th set. A number of substitutions were made in an attempt to find an effective combination, but in the end the Air Force team confirmed why they are reigning champions and tournament favourites with a convincing 4th set win 25-18.

It was in many sections of the match the best standard that the Australians have produced so far, but today the opponents were too good.

Tomorrow’s Bronze Medal play-off will be against the Thai Navy team.