Brave Aussies Beaten by Clinical Argentines

WAIS volleyball athlete Luke Smith and the Australian team staged a brave fight, but the team of Olympic debutants could not match the might of the world number eight ranked Argentineans in their tournament opener at Earls Court on Sunday, losing in three straight sets.

While they lost in three sets (21-25, 22-25, 20-25) the world number 22 ranked Australians challenged their more-fancied rivals and showed encouraging signs.

Australian coach Jon Uriarte said he was proud of how the team had evolved in a short time, but he would be demanding more in their next outing against host nation Great Britain on Day 4 (Tuesday).

“To win matches we have to be 100 per cent very aggressive and very determined,” he said.” Our challenge from here is to keep improving and put more energy and determination into our game.”

Australian captain Igor Yudin is also expecting more in game two from his troops, who are all playing in their first Olympic Games after qualifying just 49 days ago.

“It was very disappointing to lose that game because we thought we had a good chance to fight our way back,” he said.

“We had a clear plan, to serve well and do better with middle attack. Their middle attack killed us. There are some areas of our game we can definitely improve on.”

The much-publicised family battle between Uriarte, a former two-time Argentinean Olympian, and his son Nicolas, who was named to make his Olympic debut for Argentina in today’s match, did not eventuate as with Nicolas not getting any court time.

“I was very focused on my job; I tried to do my best,” Jon Uriarte said.

“There is nothing more important in life for a father to see his children happy and to be able to enjoy this moment for Nicolas together is an amazing gift.”

Argentina’s coach Javier Weber would not be drawn on why he didn’t play Nicolas, saying only “when I need him I will put him on the court.”