VOLLEYROOS RISE UP FOR BRONZE ON COAST
THE Australian Volleyroos rose to the occasion in front of a pumped up Gold Coast crowd to capture bronze at the FIVB World League Group Two finals yesterday.
Australia beat the Netherlands 3-0 (29-27, 25-19, 28-26) in the medal playoff at the Carrara Sports and Leisure Centre.
It was a welcome performance for the home side after a tough five-set loss to Japan on Saturday rubbed them out of the gold medal playoff.
Australian captain Paul Carroll said the performance was a credit to his team.
“It’s been a pretty long World League campaign,” he said yesterday.
“We were certainly starting to feel fatigued, especially in that third set, but I think the crowd got us home. Our goal was to win the gold, but I’m pretty proud of our guys that we came out to show the fight that we did and won those close sets, the first and third sets.”
Carroll finished the match with 18 points, while Luke Smith had 12.
Three services aces apiece to Nathan Roberts and Travis Passier at crucial stages of the match helped the Volleyroos take control.
“They could have gone either way, but it’s about the heart and the work ethic and the courage we have together, that’s why we win those close ones,” Carroll said.
The Volleyroos will now turn their attention to next month’s Asian zone World Championship qualifiers in Canberra.