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Match 5 – 02-10-09
AUS lost to NZL 2:3 25-22, 25-18, 20-25, 22-25, 12-15
AUS Starting Line-up (and points scored): Moeller (4), Douglas-Powell (11), Cook (10), Lillywhite (7), L. Hill © (8), Winzar (6), McEwen (libero)
Substitutes: Lowe (6), Bell (1), Clewes (5), Simmonds (2)
The final match of the 2009 ‘Murray Mansfield’ Trans Tasman Cup was played in Auckland tonight in front of a vocal crowd of close to 200. All spectators were treated to a spectacle this evening, as each team dominated play at different stages of the match, the game sent to a thrilling fifth set where New Zealand had the edge to clinch their first series win since 2001.
A determined team stepped onto the court at the beginning of the match and made their intentions clear from the outset, Douglas-Powell and Cook each scoring a kill block in the first two points of the match. This strong start forced the Kiwis into error, a handy 4-0 lead the result. A strong float serve by Moeller caused an overpass which was quickly dispatched by Cook, helping the team to the first technical timeout 8-3. Australia was dominant on sideout for the majority of the set, allowing the opposition a single transition during the next phase as they maintained a three point break at the second technical. A second kill block to Cook pushed the Aussies further in front; however a lapse resulting in three errors allowed the Kiwis back into the set. Consecutive service aces to L. Hill created a much needed buffer at 22-18, the Australians siding out to claim the first set 25-22.
Lillywhite had the Aussie team off to a steady start in the second set with two sideout kills. When Douglas-Powell terminated an overpass from a Winzar serve, Australia held a slender 8-7 lead. The lead was greatly increased during the next phase of the set; Three blocks to Cook as well as an ace to Douglas-Powell, were followed up by a kill block to Lillywhite to enter the second technical 16-11. This strong play continued through to the end of the set, the Kiwis forced to earn every point they scored. A fourth kill block for the set to Cook brought up set point at 24-18, an opposition error handing Australia a 2-0 set lead.
It had been mentioned between sets that the Kiwis would lift and fight during the third set, but their ferocity at the beginning was almost unexpected by the Australian players. The Australian attack powerless as the New Zealanders transitioned at will, while also blocking the Australian outsides twice to lead 0-7. The Aussies managed to close the gap substantially through kills to Winzar and L. Hill, Lowe also having an immediate impact once he was introduced to the attack with consecutive kills as Australia forced a timeout at 12-14. Immediately following the timeout, an overpass kill was marred by a net touch by the Australian attacker, releasing the pressure from the Kiwis. A loss of focus resulting in a further transition kill to New Zealand to enter the second technical 12-16. After this point the Australian side were deflated and failed to capitalise on their earlier momentum, the set closed out in due course 20-25 in New Zealands favour.
The fourth set was quite even early on, a kill to Simmonds keeping Australia close at 5-6. Two attack errors from Australia saw the first technical, 6-8. Moeller tipped on sideout and followed up with a kill block to level it at 10-10, before Douglas-Powell became the scorer of choice with two kills on attack as well as a block to go into the second technical 16-15. The Australian pass faltered as the pressure mounted, an overpass kill to New Zealand on the back of two attack errors against triple blocks seeing the score fly from 19-17 to 19-22. Lowe provided a much needed spark with strong attack off the opposition block, siding out and then scoring two transition kills, the scores level at 22-22. However the Kiwis eventually sided out and then forced two errors to close out the set 22-25.
Once again the fifth set was half over before the Australian team were ready. New Zealand firing on all cylinders to race out to a 2-8 lead. From the change of ends, Australia actually outscored their opposition as they clawed back to within two points, a service ace to Moeller as well as a block to Simmonds aiding the fightback. Australia was made to pay for it’s poor start though, New Zealand holding on to secure their third fifth set win for the series, 12-15.
A hard lesson has been taught throughout the series this year and one which the Australian team will look to learn from ahead of their Asian Junior Championships campaign next year – consistency in actions and across matches is paramount in order to be successful.
The Australian team would like to thank the New Zealand Volleyball Federation as well as the local associations and its volunteers for their organisation and hospitality while touring the country. Thanks to the New Zealand Junior Boys Volleyball team and its support staff for the closely contested matches throughout the series, we look forward to the next time we compete with each other.
Special thanks to Phong Nguyen and the staff at the Australian Volleyball Federation for the countless hours coordinating and preparing the Australian delegation for the tour.
Above all, the team would like to thank the many supporters, families and friends for their contributions (financial and physical) to prepare and enable the athletes to compete in the series this year; without you all, this wouldn’t be possible.
Statistics
Attack – Team 35% kill 24% error (11%ke), Cook 50% kill (8) 0% error, Lowe 46% kill (13) 15% error
Block – Team 18 kills, Cook 6 kills, Moeller 3 kills
Passing – Team 2.02 38% perfect 2% error, McEwen 2.33 (21) 52% perfect 0% error
Serving – Team 1.80 4 aces 9 errors, L. Hill 2.25 (8), Moeller 2.24 (17); L. Hill 2 aces, Bell and Douglas-Powell 1 ace each
Best players – Moeller, Cook
Click HERE to get to the gallery.
Click HERE to download the video. (102 MB)
The ‘91 Australian Junior Men’s team had the Murray Mansfield Cup wrestled from their grasp tonight in a hard fought 5 set match.
25-22, 25-18, 20-25, 22-25, 12-15
’91 Australian Junior Boys v New Zealand
‘Murray Mansfield’ Trans Tasman Cup
Match 4 – 01-10-09
AUS def NZL 3:1 (25-18, 24-26, 25-16, 25-20)
AUS Starting Line-up (and points scored): Moeller (5), Douglas-Powell (7), Cook (9), Lillywhite (15), Lowe (1), Winzar (12), McEwen (libero)
Substitutes: L. Hill © (10), Bell (0), Clewes (DNP), Simmonds (DNP)
Both teams made the short trip across to Hamilton today on what was also the first day of the tour without persistent rain. After settling into their new surroundings the team reviewed video from their previous match to address key areas which required attention. With everyone clearly working towards the same goal, the Australians were quietly confident about the upcoming match, with a strong “team” feeling throughout their full preparations and warmup.
Not even an intense Haka performed by the New Zealand players could interrupt the Aussies focus, as they started the better of the two teams, out to an 8-4 lead at the first technical. Lillywhite was dominant on serve as he reeled off five serves in a row, each restricting the Kiwis to one option. This sustained service pressure resulted in one kill block to Winzar and an easy transition kill to Lowe as the lead was pushed out to 12-4. It was consecutive kills to Lillywhite (one on sideout, the second on transition) that pushed the teams to the second technical timeout, Australia holding onto their eight point lead. Sadly a lapse in concentration saw the Kiwis bridge the gap, forcing Australia to use both timeouts as the scores were tied at 17-17. Once the team settled and refocused on their key tasks, the set was quickly over as Lillywhite killed three times on attack from the backrow in addition to four consecutive errors by New Zealand. The set finished when a Lillywhite serve caught the net and dropped in front of the attack line for an ace, 25-18.
Australia had the slight advantage early in the second set, 8-6 after L. Hill killed twice on sideout as well as scoring an ace. Although Cook kill blocked twice in succession, Australia trailed 15-16 at the second technical timeout, due largely to some strong play by New Zealand. A contested call at 20-18 allowed the Kiwis back into the set, just as Australia were looking to pull away. Unfortunately this led to a quick turnaround to see the team trail 20-21. The Australians managed to slow their oppositions momentum, however the damage had been done as the Kiwis took the set with their second set point, 24-26.
A refocused Australian outfit retook the court in the third set, Douglas-Powell made excellent position on block to shut-out the main Kiwi attacker from the previous set; and when Moeller aced on serve, the Aussies had edged out to a 3-1 lead. Another ace soon after to Douglas-Powell saw Australia enter the first technical at 8-5. A lead that continued to grow as all the Australians found the floor on attack, 16-9. Moellers third setter tip for the match followed by a kill block only increased the margin, the set effectively over at 20-11. Australia siding out to take a 2-1 set lead, 25-16.
Although Lillywhite again attacked well at the beginning of the set, New Zealand held the small advantage 6-8 as the Australian pass faltered – allowing two direct points. Winzar completely swung the momentum around halfway through the set, taking the team from 11-14 to 16-15 at the second technical when he blocked twice in a row. A third block coming out of the technical, followed soon after by a great quick attack over a mis-timed block saw the Australians in front 18-16. Although the Kiwis managed to draw level at 18, their attack was blunted by the Aussie back-court defence as it kept everything alive to provide Douglas-Powell and Cook with a transition opportunity each. When L. Hill blocked truly, Australia was in complete control of the set 23-19. The match closed out when Cook aced on service, 25-20.
The 2009 ‘Murray Mansfield’ Trans Tasman Cup returns to Auckland Friday for the deciding match of the series. In what has been the most exciting and certainly the most closely contested series between the two countries in recent years, the Australians will be striving to retain the trophy, another consistent performance their means of achieving this.
Statistics
Attack – Team 43% kill 17% error (26%ke) Winzar 64% kill (11) 0% error, Cook 50% kill (10) 10% error, L. Hill 40% kill (20) 15% error
Block – Team 12 kills, Winzar 4 kills, Cook 3 kills, Lillywhite 2 kills
Passing – Team 1.92 30% perfect 10% error, L. Hill 2.06 (18) 28% perfect 6% error, McEwen 1.91 (23) 35% perfect 9% error
Serving – Team 1.84 6 aces 7 errors, Moeller 2.00 (19), Winzar 2.00 (14); L. Hill, Moeller, Winzar, Douglas-Powell, Cook and Lillywhite 1 ace each
Best players – Moeller, Winzar
Click HERE to download it (114 MB)
Click HERE to download Set #4 from Match 3 (120 MB)
click HERE to go to the gallery
The ‘91 Australian Junior Men came out on top tonight in Match 4
3-1 25-18, 24-26, 25-15, 25-20
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