First 2 Games V Argentina

Well after a quick preperation we flew down to Melbourne to play 2 games against Argentina. Heading into the first game we were all excited to be playing the #7 team in the world, we had a good record against the Argies and we wanted to continue it.
First of all I would like to say it was amazing to get the crowd that we got in game 1. I heard estimates of between 2-4 thousand, so i'd assume it was probably in between those 2 figures somewhere. Either way they were a great loud crowd and really helped us throughout the game.
So after a good warmup and some technical difficulties (We could hardly hear the national anthems and they played the Italian national anthem instead of the Argentinian one!!) We were ready to go.
The game started well for us as we quickly motored to a good lead in the first. The Argies were looking a little jet lagged and we were taking advantage. Paul and Igor started well on the outside, and towards the end our middles started getting more of the ball and killing at a good percentage. An Andrew Grant 'change up' ace finished the set for us. The second set was pretty much the complete opposite, Argentina bounced back and started making some great defensive plays. Their Libero Meana almost perfect in reception and making numerous great touches in defence. We were simply unable to catch up and the set finished about 25-14. This smashing in the second set got us back into action. Quickly we were on a roll with Benny starting to find the holes through the block. Our service tempo increased and it was making the Argentinian attack predictable. About midway through the set Paul Carroll ran into the pole turning it about 60 degrees sideways. After many minutes trying to fix the net we ended up having to get a whole new net before restarting the match. In the end it was a good 15 minute hold up. To our credit we bounced back stronger immediatelly making a good run off points to effectivelly make it imposssible for Argentina to come back that set. We again jumped out of the blocks to lead comfortably at 8-5 in the 4th. With Igor, Paul and Benny were really pressing with there serves and Ralph putting in some nicely placed float serves we had the Agries scrambling. With the crowd behind us we finished in style running away with it to 25-15.
It was probably the best victory I have had with the senior team so far, beating a very well renound top 10 team in a convincing fashion was great. It was also good to beat our old Australian coach and show how much we had improved over the last few years. After the game we were signing autographs and getting pictures taken for a good 30-45 minutes. Which is an unbelivable thing when it's volleyball in Australia, but great for the sport. I can only hope we hold some more internatinals all around Australia so many states can see this type of top level Volleyball.

So the next morning we were off to Bendigo to play the second match. Again a good crowd of maybe 800-1000 people backed the Bendigo basketball stadium to see the match. The first set was again all Australia as we came out of the blocks, our opposite Paul Carroll was great hitting many kills as we took the set comfortably to 20. The Argentinian machine got rolling in the second as Marcos Milinkovich (MVP last world championships) and his other outsides started to kill some ball. Again Argentina made some great defensive plays and helped by some great transition sets from there 18 year old setter Dececco they quickly struck back to win 25-21.
In the 3rd set Argentinas influential Libero Meana was replaced due to injury. However this did not seem to matter as we had lost some of our spark in attack. A run of serves from Dececco in the middle of the set was enough to give Argentina a big lead. A fightback at the end was not enough as we lost the set to 21.
In a new starting lineup with myself on as opposite and Matt Young as setter the team started well in the 4th. The middles continued to stay solid like throughout the match and our outsides lifted. A service run from myself gave us the lead into the first technical. Igor hit a real nice pipe and Benny was hitting some nice transition kills from 4 and soon we were up 16-12. With a rela emphasis on lifting after 16 we did just that and with good siding out we took the set to 19.
5th set! The Argies jumped us at the start if the 5th with a run of poor passing. Down 4-1 we slowly pushed our way back to be 10-10. Unfortunatelly some bad passing and a hitting error left us 14-11 down, a side out made it 14-12. And then I served into the net at match point down........bugga! So not the best way to end the game but we played some good volleyball during the match and we now need to continue to imporve and play some good volleyball before world champs. We have 1 game against the Argies and Canada, and a morning scrimmage with Canada the day we leave. Should hopefully be able to keep this blog going during worlds depending on internet access at the hotel! So stay tuned.