Aussie, Aussie, Aussie: The Australian men’s volleyball team that will take on Argentina at Dandenong Basketball Stadium on Monday night. Back row: Steve Benson (team manager), Jarryd Christensen (QLD), Igor Yudin (VIC), Luke Campbell (VIC), David Ferguson (WA), Paul Carroll (NSW), Shane Alexander (QLD), Andrew Strugnell (assistant coach), Russell Borgeaud (Head Coach). Front: Andrew Grant (QLD), Nathan Roberts (SA), Phil Desalvo (VIC), Fiona Gutschlag (physiotherapist), Aden Tutton (SA), Brett Alderman (QLD), Ben Hardy (captain) (ACT).By Glen Atwell
INTERNATIONAL men’s volleyball is set to spike its way into Dandenong when Australia clashes with Argentina on Monday night at the Dandenong Basketball Stadium.
The first international volleyball game to be played in Melbourne since 1998 will serve as a warm-up event to the FIVB Volleyball World Championships in Japan later this month.
Three Victorian players have been selected in the Australian team – Luke Campbell (202cm, aged 27), Igor Yudin (199cm, 19) and Phillip De Salvo (182cm, 21).
The all-star game is expected to be a thriller.
Australia, ranked 24 in the world, will need every bit of the home court advantage against the Argentines, who are ranked sixth.
In an interesting twist, Argentinean coach Jon Uriarte is a former Australian coach.
Uriarte coached Australia from 2001-04 and qualified the Australian team for the 2002 World Championships and the 2004 Olympic Games.
His long-time assistant coach, Russell Borgeaud, is the current coach of Australia.
Monday night’s game serves into action at 7.30pm.
Tickets can be purchased through the Volleyball Victoria website, www.volleyballvictoria.com.au, or by calling 9521 4800.
