1998 Australian Volleyball League

The new Australian Volleyball League kicked off on Saturday, April 18, 1998, here in Melbourne at the Sports and Aquatic Centre. Melbourne was well represented by the Falcons with players from the Victorian Volleyball League club of Preston Falcons plus a few ring-ins to strengthen both the men's and women's sides.

In its first year, the Australian Volleyball League ran for just four short rounds, however there was plenty of great volleyball played in that time. Unfortnately for the Melbourne Falcons men, they finished out of the finals in fifth place. The Melbourne women however came away with a bronze medal in the finals up in Sydney. The men's finals were held on Saturday, May 23, at Melbourne's Sports and Aquatic Centre at Albert Park. The gold medal match saw the Australian Institute of Sport up against the Sydney Cedars. And while the Sydney team had a couple of former national representatives in Gabe Mauerhofer and Edi Vucosa, they were no match for the younger, taller AIS team, going down in straight sets.

The Australian Volleyball League is now looking towards anexpanded competition in 1999 - more teams and a longer season. Youcan continue to catch this year's indoor AVL action onSBS televisionthough as they show the finals on Sunday afternoons at 4pm.