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.

NZL Men’s Progressive Programme

The New Zealand Volleyball Website is reporting on the Men’s Indoor Volleyball Programme. Mentioning that its continuing to evolve under the direction of new New Zealand Men’s Coach, Tony Barnett.
The first of a series of regional tournaments was held in Christchurch as part of a training camp and trial matches to promote and development the Men’s National Programme.
Notable things to look out for was the announcement of NZ Men’s Team on Monday 23rd June (Fri 27 June – confirmation by players of availability). They will compete in the Oceania Tournament in July, Tonga.

To read more with VNZ about the evolution of the Men’s Volleyball Programme click here.

Men’s Central Zone 2 – 2008

2nd Central Zone Result’s for Men’s Competition
Palmerston North 24 – 25 May, 2008.

	Totals		Totals
	Points		Sets		Difference		Wins	Place
	F	A	F	A	Points	Sets
Eagles Men	399	303	15	2	96	13	5	1st
Rongotai Men	438	385	14	5	53	9	4	2nd
Hawkz Men	403	402	9	10	1	-1	3	3rd
Massey Men	434	431	9	10	3	-1	2	4th
Wests Men	363	443	5	14	-80	-9	1	5th
Measina	390	463	5	15	-73	-10	0	6th

 

Women’s Central Zone 2 – 2008

2nd Central Zone Result – Finals
Palmerston North 24 – 25 May, 2008.

* Table below has 1st Round in black text and 2nd Round in a different colour.

Semi 1 – NZIS vs Rongotai ( 25-14, 25-16, 25-14 ) Winner NZIS

Semi 2 – Hawkz vs Massey ( 7-25, 14-25, 15-25 ) Winner Massey

FINAL
NZIS vs Massey ( 3-0 )
( 34-32, 25-21, 25-15 ) Winner NZIS

Play Off 3rd/4th
Rongotai vs Hawkz ( 3-2 )
( 25-15, 16-25, 22-25, 25-18, 18-16 ) Winner Rongotai

Play Off 5th/6th
Eagles vs Measina Spikers ( 3-2 )
( 27-25, 22-25, 22-25, 25-18, 15-8 ) Winner Eagles

Play Off 7th/8th
Linton VC vs Western Suburbs ( 2-3 )
( 25-19, 21-25, 23-25, 25-18, 8-15 ) Winner Western Suburbs

 Play Off 9th/10th
Massey B vs Wainui Rapids ( 3-1 )
( 25-21, 17-25, 27-25, 25-20 ) Winner Massey B

Pool Play
Pool A – NZIS – Eagles – Hawkz – Linton VC – Massey B
Pool B – Massey A – Rongotai – Western Suburbs – Wainui Rapids – Measina Spikers

	Totals		Totals
	Points		Sets		Difference		Wins	Place
	F	A	F	A	Points	Sets
NZIS	200	109	8	0	91	8	4	1st
	159	112	6	0	47	6	2
Massey A	200	107	8	0	93	8	4	2nd
	143	120	3	3	20	0	1
Rongotai	197	162	6	2	25	4	3	3rd
	150	174	3	5	-24	-2	1
Hawkz	186	161	6	2	25	4	3	4th
	135	181	2	6	-46	-4	0
Eagles	157	168	4	4	-11	0	2	5th
	111	101	3	2	10	1	1
Measina	85	100	2	3	-15	-1	1	6th
	101	111	2	3	-10	-4	0
Wests	185	186	4	6	-1	-2	1	7th
	102	102	3	2	0	1	1
Linton	158	208	2	7	-50	-5	1	8th
	102	102	2	3	0	-1	0
Massey B	151	206	1	8	-8	-7	0	9th
	94	91	3	1	3	2	1
Wainui	113	207	1	8	-94	-7	0	10th
	91	94	1	3	-3	-2	0

 

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.

Kiwi’s Take a Lesson From Olympic Champions

Lochhead and Pitman won their first match against Georgia, and then lost to the Olympic Champions, Brazil in the FIVB Beach Volley World Tour event in Barcelona, Spain.

New Zealand Beach Volleyball Team of Kirk Pitman and Jason Lochhead continued their quest for qualification to the 2008 Beijing Olympics in Barcelona, Spain with one win and one loss in the ‘Main Draw’ and now face a Brazilian team in their next elimination match.

Lochhead and Pitman’s first match of the day was their elimination match against the Georgian Team of Geor and Gia. This was the fourth meeting of the two teams, with the Georgian team winning the first 2, and Pitman and Lochhead winning their last meeting in Brazil in 2007. The Georgians have an Olympic ranking of 13, and a guaranteed spot at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

The Kiwis started the match well, dominating from the outset. They strolled through the first set playing errorless beach volleyball to take it 21-15. The second set was even more convincing winning 21-10, and the match 2-0.

The second match was against the reigning Olympic Champions of Ricardo and Emmanuel of Brazil. This was always going to be tough, as the number one seeded team in the World have been at the top of the sport for several years.

It a close first set Lochhead and Pitman scrambled well, and got some good blocks on the large Ricardo. The Brazilians though pulled away at the end of the set to win 21-18. The second set saw the Brazilians continue where they left off in the first set. They comfortable won the 2nd set 21-14, and the match 2-0. Lochhead and Pitman now play the young Brazilian team of Bruno and Maciel to move to 13th position in the tournament.

Results

Geor-Gia GEO Lost to Lochhead-Pitman NZL 0-2 (15-21, 10-21) 0:39
Ricardo-Emanuel BRA Defeated Lochhead-Pitman NZL 2-0 (21-18, 21-14) 0:42