Serbia Head to the 2008 Olympics

European Olympic Qualification Final  
Serbia defeat Spain 3-2 (24-26, 16-25, 25-19, 25-15, 17-15)

Serbia’s Men’s Volleyball Team has booked itself a date with the the Olympic Volleyball in Beijing by downing the 2007 European Volleyball Champions Spain in a cliffhanger 5-setter.

Spain and Serbia were by far the better teams of this European Qualification Tournament and it seemed fitting that they faced off in the finals. It was a classic match-up with 2007 INDESIT Champions Spain against a team of champions, Serbia.
With the 1st & 2nd set going to Spain it seemed all over. But there was just enough fuel left in the tank for Serbia and they made easy pickings of the 3rd & 4th set winning them both comfortably. Heading into the 5th set they both became deadlocked on 13-13. On the next play Spain had hit the ball across court ending the rally, the ball seemed in, the 2nd Ref called the serve in, but the Linesman called it out. After a short discussion the 1st Ref sided with the Linesman. A controversial call by broadcast standards as TV showed the ball to look in. And as the game went to 14-13 in favor of Serbia, Spain managed to fight back to go into deuce. Eventually Serbia won their 3rd match-point (5th set 17-15) and also winning a place into the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Kiwi Pair on Top Again

Wellington Beach Volleyball Men’s Final
Jason Lochhead & Kirk Pitman (NZL) defeat Paul Baxter & Adam Roberts (USA) 
2-0 (21-15, 21-19)

The weather was difficult but New Zealand’s beach volleyball men adapted best at Oriental Bay.

Plenty of practice in the windy conditions proved to be the key for Kirk Pitman & Jason Lochhead in the Wellington leg of the New Zealand beach volleyball tour yesterday.
The pair extended their winning run with a straight sets – 21-15, 21-19 – win against United States pair Paul Baxter & Adam Roberts, the third victory in as many tournaments for the New Zealand combination.
Wellington turned on its blustery charm yesterday afternoon as the men battled on Oriental bay, which proved a challenge for all teams.
“Its pretty tough. Everybody likes to serve into it and you really have to play into it. That’s not easy because it moves around all the time & anything can happen”. Pitman said.
“If the wind gusts you can lose a point or three points in a row.
When you’re serving you have to throw the ball into a different spot, [and] when you’re hitting you run to a position where you know it’s going to blow to. It’s just about reading what it’s going to do”.
“but we’ve had lots of practice at that. In Tauranga it blows a lot in the afternoon and we train in that, so we’re used to it”.

“We’re looking forward to the New Zealand Open, which we won last year, so we’re looking to defend our title.” – Kirk Pitman

Pitman & Lochhead missed the second leg of the tour at Ohope Beach due to niggly injuries, but they have not lost a game in the three legs they have played.
The tour moves to Auckland next weekend & Pitman admitted he was hoping for a bit more sunshine, though he was prepared for “four seasons in one day”.
“We’re looking forward to the New Zealand Open, which we won last year, so we’re looking to defend our title.
“We haven’t lost a game yet so fingers crossed, & we will go out there & give it everything again. Hopefully, we will enjoy it again because this is the time we really enjoy coming home,” Pitman said.
However, the pair has a bigger challenge looming, returning to the world tour with hopes of securing a place at the Beijing Olympics in August.
Top 10 finishes are planned to rise from 27th in the Olympic rankings to 24th.
Pitman admitted they were not in their best physical shape yet & this year was shaping as a challenge.
They start with a training camp in Sydney after the New Zealand tour before heading back into competition, where the challenge is to maintain top form for a long stretch.
“Its tough. To be honest, last year we didn’t quite find the formula so we’re hoping that we learnt from last year & we’re going to put that into practice this year.
We need to be at the top of our game for long periods & I think that’s the hardest thing for a sportsperson – & I think for every team & everybody who plays sport, to be at the top of your game for a long period is hard.
“For all of these tournaments its about trying to find what is your formula & what makes you tick.” he said. – Dominion Post – 15.01.07 – Anna Jensen Reported

Scarlett Frustrated at Rate of Progress

Wellington Beach Volleyball Women’s Final
Lili Maestrini & Camilla Dos Reis Saldanha (BRA) defeated Anna Scarlett & Susan Blundell (NZL)
2-1 (21-18, 21-19, 15-8.)

Anna Scarlett is preparing for a tough year after faltering again against the Brazillians in the Wellington leg of the New Zealand beach volleyball tour.
Scarlett & Blundell went down fighting in yesterdays’s final. After losing the first set 21-18, they fought back to claim the second set 21-19 before losing the third 15-8.

“We’re athletes and we’re competitors, so we want to win. It’s not nice coming third or second, but we’ve got to take the positives out of it, which are things are coming together slowly,”
Scarlett said.

“We’ve got time on our side looking ahead to 2012. This is a frustrating time, because I want to be good now and I know that we can be.”
- Anna Scarlett
- Dominion Post – 15.01.07 – Report By Anna Jensen