2008 New Zealand Men’s Team Announced

Media Release: Volleyball New Zealand

Volleyball New Zealand announces the following New Zealand Men’s team ( 23.6.08 ) to play a four match series against the Australian Institute of Sport Development Squad in Canberra from 14-19 August 2008.

NZ MEN’S TEAM:

Name	Age	Position	Club, Location
Russell Gordon	18	Setter	Tauranga, Whakatane
Sam Tui’vai	19	Passer Hitter	Sparta, Auckland
Jason Seaward	20	Passer Hitter	Shirley, Christchurch
Garth Taylor	20	Libero	Eagles, Wellington
Matt Quinn	20	Setter	Eagles, Palmerston North
Ben Glue	21	Opposite	Shirley, Christchurch
Simon Petersen	21	Middle	Eagles, Wellington
Kirill Morekhodov	23	Middle	North Harbour, Auckland
Benetti Schwalger (C)	29	Passer Hitter	South Auckland, Auckland
Soane Vaipulu	30	Opposite	Eagles, Palmerston North
Gavin Kelsall	34	Middle	South Auckland, Auckland

 

Non Travelling Reserves

Matthew Nicholls	17	Passer Hitter	Tauranga, Tauranga
Ethan Barrowclough	18	Libero	Waitakere, Auckland
Elliot Gilchrist	21	Middle	Scorpions, Dunedin
John Fowler	21	Passer Hitter	Scorpions, Dunedin
Nathan Hylkema	24	Opposite	Tasman, Nelson

 

Management

Tony Barnett	Coach	Napier
Nico Ngwun	Assistant Coach	South Auckland

   
Coach Tony Barnett is delighted with the turn out of over 120 athletes throughout the country participating in trials over the last 2 months and has picked a team with a good mix of talented younger players and experienced older players.

 

Countries Are Set For Olympic Glory

All countries are now locked-in, women’s and now men are all ready for medals honors at the 2008 Summer Olympics, Beijing.
Japan’s men, took on a topsy-turvey Argentinean team to a 5 setter thriller. That match was their 2nd-to-last of seven matches played in the World Olympic Qualifier which also doubled as the Asian Olympic Qualifier. With that victory over Argentina, they secrured their spot in Beijing. 

Japan, ended the tournament with 6 wins and a loss to 10th in the world Italy, who are punching way above their 10th placed ranking. Italy also booked themselves with the best seats in the house by winning the the whole tournament without defeat, only Argentina & Japan managed to push them to a 5 set match.
Japan have made strong in-roads with their brand of volleyball, playing much more powerful & taller opponents, but are managing to seal the business deal in the end where is matters with great defence.

To read more about Japan’s historic return to Olympic Volleyball click here.

To see all the teams qualified for the 2008 Olympic’s click here.

Also story of Italy winning a place at the 2008 Olympics, click here.

Poland Cancels Portuguese Olympic Dream

Polands Men’s Volleyball team clinches victory and a place in the 2008 Olympics. Portugal proving a tough opponent and very nearly had Olympic status, but the third set didn’t swing their way. Portugal take 2nd place at the tournament with Poland winning the match in straight sets 3-0 and the Olympic ticket ( 25-21, 25-19, 26-24 ). The 4-team round robin tournament, for the 2008 Men’s World Qualification tournament held at Nave Municipal de Espinho hall in Portugal also produced a win to Puerto Rico, over winless Indonesia 3-0 (25-21, 25-21, 25-22).

Portugal Head Coach Jorge Schmidt said the defeat was because of a lack of concentration in reception and expressed his sadness to lose at home.

“It is very difficult for me to be here defeated. I want to congratulate Poland for their qualification to the Olympic Games and I wish them good luck. In this match Poland was superior to Portugal although in the third set things were even and we were near to winning the set that might have started a comeback,” said Schmidt.

Read more with the FIVB. *Photo courtesy of the FIVB.

Puzzle Completed For Women’s Volleyball Olympics

Kazakhstan have taken the final spot for being the 2nd best Asian team in the last Qualifying Tournament in Tokyo, Japan. After the Japanese women’s team qualified for the olympics within the same tournament, by getting into the top three. The race was on between Korea, Thailand and Kazakhstan to become the best Asian Qualifier.
With the last day of play, both Korea and Thailand needed a win to advance themselves. If Korea had won which they didn’t, they lost to Dominican Republic 3-1. Korea could have cleared both Thailand and Kazakhstan. With Korea losing, Thailand faced Kazakhstan and Thailand could elevate themselves into the Olympics with a win. But it was Kazakhstan who nudged both Korea and Thailand out of the way by defeating Thailand 3-1.

Read more with the FIVB.

Women’s Teams Qualified For 2008 Beijing Olympics
	Qualified Country	Tournament	ZONE / Host Country
1	China	Olympics	China (Automatic Entry)
2	Italy	1st World Cup	Japan
3	Brazil	2nd World Cup	Japan
4	USA	3rd World Cup	Japan
5	Algeria	COQT	AFRICA / Algeria
6	Kazakhstan	COQT	ASIA*
7	Russia	COQT	EUROPE / Germany
8	Cuba	COQT	NORCECA
9	Venezuela	South America	CSV / Peru
10	Japan	WOQT	Japan*
11	Serbia	WOQT	Japan*
12	Poland	WOQT	Japan*

   
* The Asian Continental Qualification Tournaments are played combined with the World Olympic Qualification Tournaments in Japan
COQT = Continental Olympic Qualification Tournament
WOQT = World Olympic Qualification Tournament

More info on Women’s Qualified teams with FIVB.

Egypt Wins Place in Beijing Olympics

As predicted the 2007 African Champs have earned themselves a place in the 2008 Beijing Olympics by defeating Algeria in the Finals 3-2 (26-24, 25-20, 25-27, 22-25, 15-9). Algeria was almost washed out of the finals but made a great comeback to take the 3rd & the 4th set to force the tiebreak. But eventual winners showed their experience in the end in front of a very excited crowd in Durban, South Africa.

Durban, South Africa February 9, 2008 – After a very exciting final, Egypt secured the African ticket to 2008 Beijing Olympic games following their victory over Algeria in a thriller five set match lasting for two hours of skillful Volleyball action that made the spectators very excited her at Tongaat hall in Durban, South Africa on Saturday.

Read more with the FIVB on all the African Men’s Results of their Volleyball Olympic Qualifier.

Men’s African Olympic Qualifications

Participating teams for the sole Olympic spot for the African Men’s Volleyball Qualifier are; South Africa, Algeria, Cameroon, Egypt, Gabon, Mozambique, Morocco, Nigeria, Rwanda & Tunisia.

These 10 teams will be split into two groups of 5 and will play in Tongart Hall in Durban, South Africa 3-9 February 2008. Favourites are current African Champs Egypt followed by Tunisia & Cameroon.

Read more with the FIVB.