Aussie Underarm Serve Thwarts New Zealand Medal Hopes!
-The New Zealand Junior Men's Volleyball (U19, U18 and U17) teams depart New Zealand today for the Australian State Champs in Beenleigh, Brisbane with the knowledge that the best they can be is 5th!
The New Zealand Junior Men's Volleyball (U19, U18 and U17) teams depart New Zealand today for the Australian State Champs in Beenleigh, Brisbane with the knowledge that the best they can be is 5th!
Volleyball New Zealand received first knowledge of amendments made to the Tournament Regulations excluding international teams from the medal matches from Volleyball Australia (AVF) on June 23. After rigorous debate with AVF, the decision by the AVF Board to endorse the amended rule was confirmed in an email to VNZ on 25 June stating"this means that international teams will play in the first round of pool play, will be eligible to move into the Championship Pool based on results, but will not be eligible to play in the medal matches".
With an investment of over $80k to attend the State Championship event, the New Zealand teams were left short on time to reconsider their participation.
Volleyball New Zealand has been advised that the same regulation will be adopted for the Australian Junior Beach Championships in 2010. AVF have cleverly prevented the New Zealand teams from defending their podium finishes at a very successful 2009 championship event.
The teams to the Australian Junior Championships:
U17-Griffin Muller, Fabian Simmen, George Risale, Sonny Hirini, Jimi Lyford, Tyler Paull, Elijah Martin, Roy Ching, Morgan Seymour, Mitchell Barnett, Lachie Pollock, Andrew Bray,
Coaches Bevan Eureti, Alani Samia.
U19- Jack Redpath, Jeffrey Thwaites, Matthew Sargent-Clarke, Michael Bernard, Michael Wright, Mark Christensen, Hamish Thompson, Patrick McConnell, Michael Paine, Calvin Buttimore, Jackson Hood, Nic McCormick
Coach Neil Anderson, Manager Don Thwaites.
U21- Luka Craig, Beau Wills, Benjamin Wilkinson, Nick Shanks, Nick Bell, Junior Sefo, William Mangos, Johann Timmer, Joshua Matthews, Cameron Shaw, Alex Low
Coach Jeff Jiang, Manager Bob Shaw.
