Australian Team Improving at Women's World Championships

The 2002 Women's World Championshipsare currently underway in Germany. The Australian team includesformer Melbourne University representative Jenny Hiller.

The Australians went into the tournament realtistic about their chances, with their main aim to finish in the top three of their pool and make it into the second round of competition. The team was excited though to be representing Australia in its first Women's World Volleyball Championships since 1982.

Up against tournament favourites, China, in their opening matchon Friday, August 30, the Australian team began strongly. Butdespite the weak start, China quickly took control of the firstset and went on from 10:6 up to an easy 25:12 win. Australiacontinued to fight well in the second and third sets but theChinese were more consistant and closed out the match 25:18,25:16. Australian head coach, Mark Barnard, was satisfied withhis team's performance after match saying,"We surprised them especially in the first set,but then we just forgot to play.We are looking forward to the next games and we will do our best.We need three victories in order to reach the second round.We are very optimistic.If you want to reach heaven you just have to go for it."

In front of 3300 spectators in Leipzig, the Australian teamcame up against Greece in their second match of the championships.Both teams looked to attack through the centre but again theopposition was more consistant that the Australians. A determinedAustralia won the third set but Greece dominated overall for a3-1 victory. After the match, Tamsin Barnett praised thesupport from the crowd, saying,"We fought very hard.Congratulations to the Greek team.For them it is their first major tournament.The atmosphere in the Arena and the supportof the fans was fantastic."