AUS Youth Boy's take 2 - 0 lead in Trans Tasman Series
Australian Youth Boys v New Zealand Junior Men’s Team
Murray Mansfield Junior Trans Tasman Trophy – Match 2 – 07-10-08
Result: AUS def NZL 3 : 0 (26-24, 25-17, 25-23)
AUS Starting Line-up (and points scored): Peacock (C)(4)(SA), Lowe (17)(NSW), Winzar (4)(VIC), Mercer (1)(QLD), A. Hill (8)(QLD), Clewes (6)(SA), Libero – Borgeaud (ACT)
Substitutes: Bates (0)(VIC), L. Hill (0)(VIC), McWiggan (9)(VIC), Blair (0)(QLD)
Match Comment:
Tonight the Australian Youth Boys team pushed out to a 2-0 match lead in the ‘Murray Mansfield’ Trans Tasman Cup as they recorded a straight sets victory over New Zealand. The quality of volleyball on display this evening was of a higher standard than their first encounter, both teams reducing their error rate from yesterday.
From the beginning of the first set, New Zealand showed their quality as they attacked efficiently on both side-out and transition, pushing out to a 5-8 lead at the first technical. The lead was pegged back, however, through successive kills to McWiggan and A. Hill on transition at 13-13. Side-outs dominated play through the middle phase of the set, with neither team able to create a decisive break until Australia surged ahead to a 24-22 lead courtesy of a Lowe kill block and transition kill. A service error on their first set point almost undid all the hard work throughout the set as New Zealand forced an attack error and levelled at 24-24. The young Australian team settled though after New Zealand errored on serve, and made sure of their third set point via a strong transition kill from McWiggan.
The Australian team continued to play with confidence in the second set which helped secure an 8-3 lead at the first technical timeout. However three consecutive errors allowed the opposition back into the set as they drew close at 10-8. A Lowe block and Clewes service ace helped restore their lead by the second technical, Australia pushing out to a 17-12 lead. While New Zealand continued to fight hard through the remainder of the set, the home teams’ defence was up to the task. Led by libero Borgeaud, the defence provided numerous opportunities for transition. Peacock converting a good high-ball set into an easy point as the Australians pushed out to a 23-15 lead. The result of the set, merely a formality as Lowe killed on their first side-out opportunity on set point, 25-17.
The third set began in similar fashion to the second, Australia out to a five point lead by the first technical, largely due to an A. Hill block and transition kill. However, the buffer was quickly shed as New Zealand fought back with some strong transition attack, forcing the home team to use both timeouts as they trailed 11-13. Four Lowe attack kills in a row helping give the home team a little momentum, as they entered the second technical timeout 16-15. Two late attack errors by Australia gave the visitors a chance at pushing the match out to four sets, but again Lowe struck, killing twice more on side-out attack and then closing out the match with a kill block.
The Australian Youth Boys team will play their third match in Canberra on Wednesday evening with a view of wrapping up the ‘Murray Mansfield’ Trans Tasman Cup. However, spectators should expect a fiery encounter as the New Zealand team is sure to bounce back after successive defeats at the hands of the Australians. The final two matches of the series will take place in Nowra on Thursday and Friday.
Statistics:
Attack – Team 51% kill 24% error (28%ke) Lowe 55% kill (28) 21% error, A. Hill 75% kill (8) 0% error
Block – Team 6 kills, Lowe, A. Hill, Peacock 2 kills each
Passing – Team 2.18 43% perfect 4% error, A. Hill 2.28 (25) 44% perfect 0% error
Serving – Team 1.97 2 aces 5 errors, Clewes 2.30 (10); Clewes, McWiggan 1 ace each
Best players – Lowe, A. Hill
